Every day, Cole Taschman heads out to Bathtub Beach in Stuart, Florida. The quiet reef on the Atlantic Coast got its name from the “bathtub effect” which breaks up waves, creates a shallow pool at low tide and reduces erosion. For Cole and the Taschman family, who consider the beach their backyard, it is known for something else.

An Australian study indicates that a simple, relatively inexpensive light-based solution could reduce shark attacks on surfers.

Covering your surfboard in bright lights sounds like an open invitation to great white sharks, but research released Tuesday by Australian scientists found it might actually stave off attacks.

Scientists have discovered that equipping surfboards with bright LED lights could prevent great white shark attacks on surfers and swimmers. A recent study published in the journal Current Biology found that lighting up the underside of surfboards disrupts the silhouette perceived by sharks - so they are less likely to mistake humans for their usual prey.