Sharks! The Meg, The Monsters, & The Myths has been a super popular exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. We got a chance to tour the temporary exhibit, as well as ask VP of Education & exhibit curator, Nicole Temple, a few questions.

There’s so much to learn from this exhibit, which explores sharks throughout their history and evolution. With interactive components such as a life-size replica of a Megalodon, to lens that let you see the way that hammerhead sharks can see, you are bound to learn something!

There is even an area for visitors to get their very own shark tooth! Visitors also have the opportunity to touch various sea creatures such as stingrays, and of course, sharks.

Speaking with curator Nicole Temple, we learned about the importance of sharks. Here are some of the things that we discussed:

Question: From concept to bringing this all to life, how long was that process?

Nicole Temple: This was a little shorter than normal, but it was basically April of 2022 to the end of May 2023. Normally, it takes a little bit longer, but this one was fast!

Question: What’s a favorite shark fact that you think most people don’t know?

Nicole Temple: I will give you my example, my favorite shark, the American Pocket Shark. So, there’s two species of Pocket Shark, the American Pocket Shark is found in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s about the same size as your hand, and it has two holes behind its pectoral fins, but it would be like your armpits, where it releases into the water, glow in the dark juice. So, it can either hide from something trying to eat it, or it can hide from something it’s trying to eat by releasing this. It kind of works like a glowstick, where two chemicals converge and when they mix in the water, it glows. It’s one of fifty plus sharks that have the ability to create light.

Question: What’s one thing you hope people take from the exhibit?

Nicole Temple: The goal is for you to see the incredible diversity of sharks and what we’re going for is that you walk away, and you realize that you need sharks more than you need you. They’re incredibly important for making sure that the oceans are healthy, and the oceans are one of the biggest carbon sinks–it’s the biggest carbon sink on earth. So, if we don’t have healthy oceans, then everything on land dies soon after. Sharks make sure that the weak animals are cold, they keep sea grasses from being overharvested, they’re apex predators, so they make sure that the number of animals that are in the ocean sort of self-regulate. So, you need them; they don’t need you.

Sharks! The Meg, The Monsters & The Myths opened on May 26 and will be available to check out until sometime in September. Tickets can be purchased on the museum’s website as well as in person.