✉news WarNuclear first seen 6 d ago, last 5 d ago, peak #5
Whale teeth tested for nuclear fallout reveal oldest known killer whale
Original: Experts tested whales’ teeth for nuclear fallout – and accidentally found the oldest killer whale on record
Researchers analysing whale teeth for traces of nuclear fallout have inadvertently documented what is described as the oldest killer whale on record. By studying growth layers in the teeth, the team was able to estimate the animal's age, an unexpected byproduct of research originally aimed at measuring radioactive contamination in marine mammals. The finding is drawing attention for what it suggests about killer whale lifespans and the way nuclear-era isotopes can serve as unintended scientific archives.
Why now: The chance discovery of a record-breaking killer whale age during unrelated nuclear contamination research is a striking science story
killer whalesBBC Wildlife Magazine
Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 11 snapshots from 6 d ago to 5 d ago.
Evidence
- Experts tested whales’ teeth for nuclear fallout – and accidentally found the oldest killer whale on record · BBC Wildlife Magazine
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