Culture
This Dead Whale Is Helping Science in an Incredibly Gross Way
Researchers are studying its earwax to learn about human-made ocean pollution. Yes, there are photos.
Several years ago, an endangered blue whale swimming near Santa Barbara endured a major personal calamity when a ship rammed it, causing massive crushing injuries that eventually led to its death.
The 70-foot-long corpse floated over the seas to eventually wash up on a local beach, where no doubt the seagulls experienced a moment of exhilaration staring at the bottomless buffet before them. But this whale was destined for far greater things than simply fattening up hungry predators. Hearing of its demise, a team of scientists swooped down to the waterfront and set up a biological salvage operation (warning: these photos are about to get gross):