Fact of the Day: 02/06/2021

Why do whales explode when they die? Whales typically have an abundance of gas – especially methane – stored in their bodies. When they die, their skin can form little tears that allow that gas to escape. If there is even a small change in pressure on the whale’s body, the entire body can explode, projecting blood and innards at incredibly high and dangerous speeds and very far. This is why you should never stay very close to a dead beached whale. Even if it doesn’t explode, the escaping gases can still be detrimental to human health.

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