It is a verdict based on ignorance and emotional reaction. It is appalling, but understandable that the scientists would withdraw from such jeopardy.

[URL]http://news.yahoo.com/shark-falls-sky-onto-calif-golf-course-233322113.html[/URL]

[QUOTE=cheesehead;316220][URL]http://news.yahoo.com/shark-falls-sky-onto-calif-golf-course-233322113.html[/URL][/QUOTE]Reminds me of this:
[url]http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/scuba.asp[/url]

[QUOTE=cheesehead;316220][URL]http://news.yahoo.com/shark-falls-sky-onto-calif-golf-course-233322113.html[/URL][/QUOTE]

A large gull could probably carry such a fish, but maybe not far. A great blue heron or great egret certainly could, as could a brown pelican. The question then might be where juvenile leopard sharks hang out, and who was mostly likely to make the snatch, [U]and[/U] head inland (or at least, across some land on the way to feeding offspring, etc.) There are other candidates like gannets. They, like brown pelicans are plunge divers which pluck fish from considerable depth.

[QUOTE=kladner;316231]A large gull could probably carry such a fish.[/QUOTE]African or European?

California, I believe.

[QUOTE=xilman;316263]African or European?[/QUOTE]Laden or unladen? Laden I guess...I suppose a shark might weigh about the same as a coconut.

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20121303[/url]

Inb4 it's realized that a tiny fraction of the population is severely allergic to the bacteria.

Not absolutely saying that's going to happen, but when you start playing with the basic building blocks of life, bad things are bound to happen. Not saying this because I'm a right-winger, more because I doubt the safety protocols for this type of stuff are good enough.

[QUOTE=jasong;316509]Not absolutely saying that's going to happen, but when you start playing with the basic building blocks of life, bad things are bound to happen.[/QUOTE]When you start playing around with anything, bad things are bound to happen.

Actually, bad things are bound to happen, whether or not you are playing around. Get over it.

A rather more productive attitude is to work out how to reduce risks and how to mitigate the consequences of bad things when they happen.

[QUOTE=jasong;316509][URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20121303[/URL]

Inb4 it's realized that a tiny fraction of the population is severely allergic to the bacteria.

Not absolutely saying that's going to happen, but when you start playing with the basic building blocks of life, bad things are bound to happen. Not saying this because I'm a right-winger, more because I doubt the safety protocols for this type of stuff are good enough.[/QUOTE]

I agree with you that we need to be very careful, but on the other hand we should not overestimate the risks I think.

When I read what you wrote I came to think of this article, reporting the discovery of M#21, from the New York Times 50 years ago, which I think is quite funny:

[QUOTE]When I read what you wrote I came to think of this article, reporting the discovery of M#21, from the New York Times 50 years ago, which I think is quite funny: [/QUOTE]

w00t!

"I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."