Fascinating Whale Facts (No, Really!)

A 49-foot bowhead whale that was recently caught off the coast of Alaska revealed an amazing secret. Lodged deep in its blubber was a small metal cylinder. When experts examined the object, they identified it as a fragment of a weapon that had been manufactured in New Bedford, Connecticut and fired from a shoulder gun . . . in 1890. Apparently the whale (estimated to be 115 to 130 years old) had survived at least one other attempt on its life. Had it gotten lucky again, it might have lived to the ripe old age of 200. (Who knew?) For more information, click here.

In other interesting (and slightly old) whale news, check out the story about a New York woman who's the proud owner of a huge hunk of whale vomit (otherwise known as ambergris and "floating gold") that could be worth $18,000. Why so much? Whale vomit, it seems, is a key ingredient in many fine perfumes. (A fact you could have probably lived without, but I couldn't resist.)

(Below: Whale vomit?)