Nature's Shark Repellent

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Over the centuries humans have tried different strategies to protect themselves from sharks. But it's no secret that shark repellents simply don't work. But now scientists have learned, from a lowly fish no less, that repelling a shark is as simple as washing his mouth out with soap - released from a squirt gun, of course.

The Moses sole, a slow swimming, apparently defenseless little fish, lives in the Red Sea. What puzzled scientists was that such seemingly easy prey never seemed to be bothered by predators. Researchers wanted to know what the Moses sole's secret was, so they offered one to sharks in a laboratory tank, knowing that sharks will eat anything. Sure enough, the sharks grabbed the sole, but just as quickly they let it go. More study showed that the sole releases a milky, detergent like substance from the pores in its skin. As soon as the shark got a little of the detergent in its mouth, it wanted nothing more to do with the sole.

While the sole's detergent is poisonous, researchers found that it's the detergent and not the poison that drives sharks away. They have found that a commercially available detergent works even better than the sole's defense.

Just as the shark cannot be tamed, neither can our sinful deeds. This is why God encourages us to stay away from opportunities to sin. He doesn't want us to suffer the necessary consequences of sin.