A version of this article originally appeared on The Conversation
Before Shark Week and Jaws, World War II spawned America's shark obsession
The experiences of some WWII veterans played a pivotal role in painting sharks as creatures to be feared
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Even megalodon babies needed nurseries to survive
To look back into shark evolutionary history, paleontologists analyzed the fossilized teeth of these ancient predators
How Shark Week hurts the very creatures it celebrates
Showing attacks makes people less likely to support protecting sharks, though they rarely bite people unless we harm their food system