Weapon Found in Whale Dated From the 1800s 661
LABarr writes "AP and CNN are carrying a story that has forced scientists to re-evaluate the longevity of mammals. A bowhead whale caught off the Alaskan coast last month had a weapon fragment embedded in its neck that showed it survived a similar hunt over a century ago. 'Embedded deep under its blubber was a 3½-inch arrow-shaped projectile that has given researchers insight into the whale's age, estimated between 115 and 130 years old. The bomb lance fragment, lodged in a bone between the whale's neck and shoulder blade, was likely manufactured in New Bedford, on the southeast coast of Massachusetts, a major whaling center at that time. It was probably shot at the whale from a heavy shoulder gun around 1890.' "
I prefer ... (Score:1, Funny)
Speargun Control (Score:1, Funny)
Finally (Score:5, Funny)
In other news... (Score:2, Funny)
Reason? Reports of singing by tribe members have come in and without a doubt, multiple infringements have occured and will continue to occur until the bringers of justice step in and halt all misuse.
You've been warned.
Yay, Humans (Score:5, Funny)
Nothing proves that man is who rules the Earth like taking animals that are 130 years old, killing them, and then hacking them up with a chainsaw. Keep showin' them animals who's boss, oh brave hunters.
YOU'RE NEXT, TURTLES
Back from the 23rd Century (Score:5, Funny)
oblig (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Wow, what it must have felt like... (Score:5, Funny)
Are you kidding?! (Score:5, Funny)
Every time it would rain, the poor whale can be heard for miles singing the complaining song of old whales. Roughly translated from whale song as he was talking to younger whales, "Aye! My neck is killing me! Years ago, some son of a bitch human shot me right in me neck! Yarrr. It 'urts every time a storm is ah brew'n. Yarrr. Take note young'ns"
What we can learn from this.... (Score:1, Funny)
Am I the only one disgusted by old age? (Score:1, Funny)
Why? Jack Kavorkian use to do the same thing.
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah but (Score:5, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)
Wow! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Yeah but (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Congratulations! (Score:4, Funny)
However, the big different between God and animals is that there are animals.
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Yayhoos? (Score:3, Funny)
Nobody. The bear doesn't need my help, and shooting it OR the person will just alert it to my presence. I back away slowly and quietly, and go back the way I came. Then I tell local authorities where they can recover the poor bastard's remains.
The ecofallacy of human exceptionalism (Score:2, Funny)
Uh, dude? *We* *are* the surrounding ecosystem!
--
phunctor
Re:Aging Whales: Evidence of Age (Score:2, Funny)
OMG (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:5, Funny)
I agree, I bet new species pop up all the time. Heck, just this morning I bet a couple of new species of whales were created! Yeah, it will happen no matter what we do....even though we are the ones doing it. Makes sense.
Lets start a club where we try not to cloud these issues with facts and logic. We can call it the Patriot Freedom Club. We can have cookies, and chocolate milk, and talk about how much global warming is beyond our control. Then we can get in our SUV's and go run over baby tortoises as they scramble for the ocean! Die little bastards, die!
Sorry, long day.
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:3, Funny)
Like this [signonsandiego.com]
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:5, Funny)
Well it is Slashdot;-) There are two sides to every opinion: the right one and the uninformed, close-minded one.
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Longevity of whales (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Not the first time (Score:4, Funny)
Or sawing the whale in half and counting the rings.