Don’t Jump on a Whale Carcass… Here’s Why

Whales do not just decompose. They can actually inflate and rupture. As bacteria break down the body, they release gases like methane and hydrogen sulfide. The whale’s thick skin and blubber trap that gas inside, pressure builds, and the carcass can swell like a giant biological balloon until it bursts. In this video, I explain the biology and physics behind exploding whale carcasses and the famous 1970 incident near Florence, Oregon where officials tried to solve the problem with dynamite. It did not go as planned. #science #history #physics #chemistry #facts #learning #story