What's Actually Inside A Whale's Blowhole

If you ever watch a whale breathe, you'll see plumes of mist shoot out of a hole in its head. Contrary to popular belief, that's not seawater. It's actually a cocktail mix of hot air and bacteria.

As a whale breaches the surface, it opens its blowhole. It then forces warm air from the lungs into the cold atmosphere. The temperature change triggers water vapor in the whale's breath to condense into water droplets. The same phenomenon happens when you exhale on a cold day. The result is a misty spout that can be seen for miles. But that's only half the story.

Scientists recently observed something new in whale spouts. They collected samples from 26 humpback whales. Within the spouts, they discovered 25 microbial species. The species were different from what was in the seawater indicating that they came from the whale's respiratory tract. This is the first step in understanding lethal disease in whales.

In the last 19 months, an unusually high number of humpbacks died along the Atlantic coast. Respiratory illness is common among stranded and deceased whales. This new record of microbes in healthy whales could help scientists determine what's making whales so sick.

Science Insider tells you all you need to know about science: space, medicine, biotech, physiology, and more.

[lsuhillary]

One thing to add to this, whales don’t have lobed lungs like we do. This is probably so they can clear air more quickly. Our lungs are divided in a way so when we get a cold or any kind of respiratory infection our lungs can “wall off” the infection. But if an infection gets in a whale’s lungs something that wouldn’t be serious to us, is a big deal for them. This is an example of an evolutionary trade off. Yes, you can have lungs that fill and empty quickly BUT you are now more open to lung infections. I love facts like this. It is an example that evolution is not a straight and perfect line.

[lasigna]

Title: What's inside a whale's blowhole

Me: ....His lungs?

[anjuagarwal]

1:03 that's literally half the story! 😂

[lauritslevinsen]

0:13 apparently the summon rainbows to🌈

[Jedidiah_Martin_]

"It's actually a cocktail mix of hot air and bacteria."
Yeah, that's because that's where the whale keeps its nasal passages.

[kathryncarter]

Seriously interesting! The first microbiologist to note this must have been thoroughly estatic. What an awesome discovery.

[applepie]

Whats making whales so sick?






Human

[serdartokgoz]

This channel has everything except "tech"

[emperorlemon]

But why did they say "actually" like people argue over what's in a whales blow hole lol

[idealspeaker]

when i was a child i always wanted to jump on that blowhole with that water!

[nilacurry]

Wow...didn't know whales expel coronavirus out of their blowholes 1:14

[annweshahazarika]

It is so good sir 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌.

[rishabhgupta]

Littery it is Very Good video I like that

[mondraymondo]

What i wanna know is how whales can seemingly exhale and inhale at such a fraction of a second, especially when they’re on a chase! Must be a very instant inhale

[aliremorque]

I thought when i read the title it was: whale's butthole!
Like wtf am i doing with my life 😂

[annavehof]

Can you change your settings, so that I can translate to Dutch? Thank you!

[jonathanlindsey]

...because I already took away iced tea.

[iigotthemojo]

This is the exact “tech” I’ve subscribed for

[vihaanthatiparthi]

*reads title*
Me:everyone knows there's pinnochio in it

[miniena]

What's next, "Tech Insider" - you're going to look up somebody's *YEHAHOW* whole?!