'Doomsday Fish' Discoveries Spark Fears Of Impending Natural Disaster

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The recent discoveries of two rare deep-sea dwelling oarfish have sparked fears of a looming natural disaster.
The fish were discovered in separate incidents in India and Tasmania within the last week.
In the first incident, fishermen in Tamil Nadu, India, pulled a 30-foot oarfish from the water. The massive fish required seven men to hold it for the video.
Stock image of an oarfish.
Stock image of an oarfish.
Photo by Eric Broder Van Dyke / Getty Images
On June 2, a dogwalker named Sybil Robertson encountered a dead nine-foot specimen washed up on a Tasmanian beach and posted photos to a citizen scientist group on social media.
"I just knew it was something unusual and weird," Sybil Robertson told The Daily Mail, describing the oarfish's markings as "fabulous".
A 'Doomsday' Fish?
Oarfish are sometimes known as "doomsday fish"—a reputation that stems from interpretations of the oarfish in Japanese folklore.
As per Forbes, at least a dozen oarfish washed up onto Japan's coastline in the year before the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, which brought the deep-sea creatures back to the forefront of the imagination.
Doomsday fish have been found in Tamil Nadu, India. pic.twitter.com/MQWurkE9ZN — ಸನಾತನ (@sanatan_kannada) May 31, 2025
Ben Fraber, an ichthyologist and the marine vertebrate collection manager at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, told Newsweek in a phone interview that the mythology was "compelling enough" to capture the public's attention.
"You do see when there's a big change in pressure on land, birds and other animals will move out of the way," Fraber said.
However, researchers in Japan took a closer look at the phenomenon, bringing in data points that included beached whales and anglerfish, as well as known natural disasters and earthquakes dating back to the early 1900s.
"They found almost no correlation whatsoever," Fraber noted. "It's really interesting to think about, but it doesn't seem to have a statistical link that we can find."
A Rare Find
Fraber has seen oarfish in person—last year, two oarfish were discovered by employees of Scripps Institution of Oceanography who were out snorkeling for the day.
The employees notified lifeguards, and the institute was able to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to bring the oarfish in.
Fraber preserved the fish in formaldehyde and alcohol, and members of the public can see one of them currently in the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in San Diego.
Fraber said oarfish sightings are relatively rare in Southern California—the two his team encountered were only the 21st and 22nd discovered since 1901.
"Having the samples in person instead of just a video allows us to look at their stomach contents, look at their genetics, we'll get nitrogen and carbon isotopes that can tell us where they are in the open ocean food web," Fraber said.
"And we preserve them so people in the future can continue asking questions from them."
According to Fraber, oarfish are filter feeders whose jaws are modified so they can push them forward and vacuum water in, creating suction that traps food similar to bass or large whales.
Oarfish primarily eat krill and small fish, which may be confused by the oarfish's silvery body that refracts light.
"You're a little school of fish, you're swimming around, you see this thing, but it kind of just looks like a big jelly or gelatinous organism, something you're not too concerned about because a jellyfish is not going to try to eat you," Fraber said.
"So you swim up and it's actually not that. It's this big fish that has a highly modified mouth that can protrude and create a kind of vacuum cleaner. It slurps up all these fish."
A "Wow" Reaction
Having handled and seen oarfish in person, Fraber understands the hype.
"I think part of it is the size," he said. "Part of it is the look, they have this beautiful bright red fin, big silvery body, large eyes.
"And part of it is the scale. We're not used to seeing animals that big—with the exception of sharks, dolphins and whales—so it elicits this kind of 'wow' reaction."
Fraber noted that the mythology of sea serpents is probably related to misidentified oarfish long ago.
"It's like actually getting to see this semi-mythological thing in person, it's not a myth, it's a real animal that's living with us on our planet, I think that makes it really amazing," he said.
"Even though I've worked on fish for almost 20 years, and have handled many oarfish specimens, these two last year were the first time I actually got to see them fresh and unpreserved in person, and it was pretty magical."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Newsweek

4 hours ago

• Newsweek

French Scientists Discover New Blood Group

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A group of French researchers have discovered a new, "ultra rare" blood group in a Guadeloupean woman after years of researching and sequencing her blood, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) said in a Friday press release. Newsweek has reached out to EFS's press team for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters The discovery marks the 48th known blood group system in the world. Understanding blood types is critical for ensuring safe and effective transfusions and organ transplants, as well as identifying certain health risks. Blood classification helps medical providers determine compatibility—or lack thereof—between donors and recipients. There are approximately 14 million units of blood transfused annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Outside of the well-known ABO system, there are a series of rare blood groups. What To Know In a social media post on LinkedIn, the EFS said in French that "this discovery was officially recognized in early June in Milan by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)." The woman is the only known carrier of a rare blood type called "Gwada negative." The case first drew attention in 2011 when she required a blood transfusion, but no compatible donor could be found. Researchers later revisited her case in 2019 and identified the unique blood type through further analysis, according to the EFS's Friday press release. Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at the EFS involved in the discovery, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that a "very unusual" antibody was found in the patient's blood in 2011. She was 54 years old at the time when she underwent a series of tests prior to surgery, according to Le Monde. Due to limited resources at the time, research into her blood type had been halted. Peyrard said the woman inherited the blood type from her parents who had the mutated gene. EFS, in French, said that the discovery "brings hope to patients, especially those with a rare blood type. Remember that the safety of a transfusion depends on the compatibility of blood groups." The group says it has been responsible for identifying 10 of the past 17 blood group systems discovered in the past decade. Karl Landsteiner discovered the first blood groups in the early 1900s and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his work. Serum tubes with blood samples from patients are processed in the central medical laboratory of the St. Georg Clinic in Leipzig. Serum tubes with blood samples from patients are processed in the central medical laboratory of the St. Georg Clinic in Leipzig. Waltraud Grubitzsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images What People Are Saying The official Nobel Prize account posted on X, formerly Twitter, on June 17: "The discovery of blood groups completely changed the view on blood transfusions, and it didn't take long before the first successful attempts were carried out. During WWI, blood transfusions were first performed on a large scale. Countless lives were also saved through surgeries, which previously had been unfeasible due to the blood loss involved." What Happens Next? Scientists continue to study blood types, advancing global health care and improving the precision and effectiveness of transfusions.

Newsweek

13 hours ago

• Newsweek

The Key to Better Sleep Is in Your Gut, Says Gastroenterologist

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Around 25 million U.S. adults suffer from insomnia. At the same time, more than 3.9 million Americans are taking probiotics, usually for gut health, according to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). And gut health could be the key to better sleep. A study published in the journal Engineering examined a specific probiotic strain called Lactobacillus helveticus CCFM1320. This probiotic produces a compound known as SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), which helps regulate the body's internal clock and supports the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. The researchers found that this probiotic could significantly improve sleep quality. The Gut as a Second Brain Neuroscientist Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, the head of sleep at Wesper, a national home sleep disorder diagnostics company, told Newsweek: "The gut essentially acts as a secondary nervous system and creates and releases many crucial neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which also help to regulate nervous system activity. "This allows for two-way communication between the gut and the brain, called the gut-brain axis. Healthy gut microbes are essential to keeping the gut healthy and functioning, and there is ample evidence that gut microbiota dysregulation can negatively impact the activity of the gut-brain axis. Because the brain is highly sensitive, this can lead to poor sleep quality." Stock image of a woman taking pills from her nightstand before bed. Stock image of a woman taking pills from her nightstand before bed. Liudmila Chernetska/iStock / Getty Images Plus Is CCFM1320 a Game-Changing Strain? To test the effectiveness of CCFM1320 in humans, scientists from Jiangnan University conducted a four-week study with 60 volunteers who experienced sleep difficulties. Participants were divided into two groups: one received the probiotic, while the other took a placebo. Results showed that those who consumed the probiotic had better sleep scores, lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and a healthier balance of gut bacteria. Additionally, the probiotic boosted the expression of genes involved in producing and utilizing SAM, a key factor in sleep and overall health. Strain-Specific Benefits Dr. Michel Bass, a board-certified gastroenterologist and the Founding Medical Director at Oshi Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of strain specificity: "Not all probiotics are created equal. This study identified CCFM1320 as uniquely beneficial for sleep quality. This isn't a generic 'take-any-probiotic' situation—it's about strain-level specificity," Bass told Newsweek. "That's where a lot of public messaging needs to evolve. Just like different medications target different conditions, different strains do different things. And this one appears to enhance melatonin synthesis via SAM methylation—a novel pathway." Probiotic Supplements vs. Fermented Foods Stock image of an assortment of fresh vegetables and meats. Stock image of an assortment of fresh vegetables and meats. esilzengin/iStock / Getty Images Plus While fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kefir are beneficial for general gut health, Bass explained that they may not provide targeted probiotic strains at therapeutic levels. "If someone wants to improve things like sleep quality or reduce stress hormones like cortisol, a strong, well-researched supplement—especially one with proven strains like CCFM1320—is usually more effective," he said. "That said, eating fermented foods is still a great daily habit and can complement targeted probiotic supplements." Jason Eastty, owner of Healthspan Longevity in Westborough, Massachusetts, and a nutrition specialist, added that overall good nutrition can combat poor sleep. "Having a nutrient deficiency—like low iron, magnesium, or vitamin D—can throw off your gut microbial balance, leading to poor sleep. Clinical trials have shown that correcting these deficiencies helps microbial diversity and improves sleep efficiency," Eastty said. He also emphasized that a whole-foods diet rich in fiber—from fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains—is essential to feeding the "good" bacteria in your gut.

16 hours ago

NASA spacecraft around the moon photographs the crash site of a Japanese company's lunar lander

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A NASA spacecraft around the moon has photographed the crash site of a Japanese company's lunar lander. NASA released the pictures Friday, two weeks after ispace's lander slammed into the moon. The images show a dark smudge where the lander, named Resilience, and its mini rover crashed into Mare Frigoris or Sea of Cold, a volcanic region in the moon's far north. A faint halo around the area was formed by the lunar dirt kicked up by the impact. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the scene last week. The crash was the second failure in two years for Tokyo-based ispace. Company officials plan to hold a news conference next week to explain what doomed the latest mission, launched from Cape Canaveral in January. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.