A Chronicle of a Whale’s Life, Captured in Earwax
5:31 minutes
Tree rings can tell a story about the environmental conditions a tree faced over its lifetime. Similarly, plugs of blue whale earwax can provide information on the mammal’s heath, chronicling pesticide exposure, stress levels, sexual maturity, and more. Sascha Usenko and Stephen Trumble of Baylor University explain how.
Segment Guests
Sascha Usenko
Sascha Usenko is an assistant professor in environmental science at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Stephen Trumble
Stephen Trumble is an assistant professor in biology at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
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About Charles Bergquist
@cbquistAs Science Friday’s director and senior producer, Charles Bergquist channels the chaos of a live production studio into something sounding like a radio program. Favorite topics include planetary sciences, chemistry, materials, and shiny things with blinking lights.