"Pregnant Stingray: The Mystery of Immaculate Conception by a Shark"

A stingray named Charlotte at a North Carolina aquarium is pregnant despite not being around a male ray for 8 years. Speculation arose about the father of her pups after she was found covered in shark bites, leading to viral commentary suggesting a shark may be the father. However, experts say this is not possible due to anatomical and genetic differences. Instead, the aquarium believes Charlotte's pregnancy is a rare case of parthenogenesis, a process where smaller cells separate from the mother's eggs and merge to create offspring. Charlotte is due within two weeks, and her caretakers are excited about the unique situation.