I mean like, if no blood particles have traveled to them in the water, how can they possibly know that it is there? Is it just a myth?
In: Biology
Sharks can indeed sense blood, but only when there is actually blood in the water.
However, the myth that a shark can sense blood in the water from several miles away is exactly that: a myth. In reality, they can sense blood in water from about half a mile away (Great white shark), tops. Which is still impressive, and also pant-shittingly terrifying.
So, if you’re having an especially shitty day and you’re being hunted by a shark (great white, tiger, bull or hammerhead, typically) and you’re not bleeding in the water, how do they find you?
Well, sharks have a fascinating organ called Lorenzini ampulae in their noses that can detect electrical activity. As you can imagine, electrical activity will be especially high in panicking or frightened prey, as a human would likely do in shark-infested waters.
Said electrical activity is generated by your heart, which emits electrical activity with every heartbeat, and the more you panic, the higher the electrical activity and thus the more detectable you become to the shark.
These haywire electrical signals allows the shark to home in on their prey in the absence of blood in the water or in complete darkness, as sharks have poor eyesight.
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