Inside the Whale Warehouse!

[@zachwinfield7807]

I love this video as I am one of the researchers using whale earwax and baleen. If you are interested in the results of one of the earwax studies check out "Baleen whale cortisol levels reveal a physiological response to 20th century whaling". In short, it's ~150 years of stress hormone data and how the whales responded to whaling, war, the marine mammal protection act as well as the current ocean environment.

[@thebrainscoop]

WOW! Thank you so much for watching- and I'm glad you liked it! :o I'm fangirling a bit. omg your research is so cool!!! we should do a whole video just about that

[@morkmon]

@@thebrainscoop Make it happen, this sounds like an amazing subject

[@patrickmccurry1563]

That was my first thought when it was mentioned you could check stress hormones. Amazing work. I wonder how it changes during times of extensive sonar use by us.

[@zachwinfield7807]

@@thebrainscoop We would love to if you are interested. I am just one of the PhD students working on this research but I spoke with my adviser and they are interested in creating a video. I can contact you directly if you are serious. I'm fangirling about this as a possibility!

[@mandas677]

thebrainscoop I would love to watch that video!! The research sounds beyond fascinating!

[@thebrainscoop]

also can we talk about how I got to hold a freakin' NARWHAL TUSK THOUGH

[@fern5430]

yes that was great, I want to do that!

[@AlthenaLuna]

That's about as close to a unicorn horn as reality gets.

[@TheLmack8]

so cool! Was it heavy?

[@emmakai2243]

Can you do a quick video on how museums protect from fire, and other accidents?

[@mybackhurts7020]

I never realized how big they were

[@gartengeflugel924]

This topic is so freaking interesting to me, you two could be talking for an hour straight about all the different whale morphologies and I'd still be amazed by how diverse and wonderful this group of mammals is. I must admit, after the intro I hoped to get more than a little glance at these enormous whale bones. Standing besides them really let's us estimate their astonishing size!

[@MatthewSmith-sz1yq]

Sorry, kind of late comment, but in case you wanted to be even more interested in this group of mammals, they actually evolved from a species that was kind of similar to deer! Not related to deer, but it occupied a similar niche, and were basically off-brand deer. I just love the fact that this line of creatures basically flipped off all their ancestors. Like some poor fish had to slowly crawl it's way out of the ocean, and it took eons to finally emerge onto land, let alone develop stuff like hair and legs and all that. But then these guys just threw all that hard work into the wind and were like "nope, I liked swimming better". It's the evolutionary equivalent of those kids who's parents saved a ton of money for college deciding to go try and join a band instead. (Not that there is anything wrong with that). My headcannon though is that cetaceans are the super rebellious branch of the tree of life. Like they decided they wanted to stick it to evolution.

[@besmart]

Narwhals are mysteries of the universe, indeed

[@666Tomato666]

'causing a commotion

[@JoaoPessoa86]

@@666Tomato666 'cause they are so awesome

[@joelamontagnejr7290]

Narwhal tusks might be the swizzle sticks in the martini of the universe, but what an awesome and mysterious commotion they 'cause!

[@iloveeveryone8611]

Narwhals are related to squirrels because they’re cute. Mystery solved, you are welcome :)

[@Meeviche]

“Can I smell it?” I love how curious you are, as otherwise I might have never heard the answer to a question I never knew I had until you asked it.

[@HEAVY_CREAM]

ouff, I wish this episode was an hour longer

[@mrdistracted42]

I didn't know narwhal tusks were THAT BIG!!

[@user-uy1rg8td1v]

Vikings used to sell them as unicorn horns to mainland Europeans.

[@ShaudaySmith]

The vaquita skull made me literally say, "oh no.." aloud, when he brought it out. I've been following the slow demise of the dolphin that straight LOOKS LIKE A PUPPY for the last couple years. The straight lack of F's the mexican government and most of it's fishing communities that have devastated its population is truly heartbreaking. As with the white rhino... let's all say goodbye to the vaquita.

[@pendlera2959]

The saddest thing is that the fishermen have an incentive to kill off the vaquita because then the fishing restrictions protecting them would be removed. Just an awful situation that should have been addressed decades ago, but now it's probably too late.

[@basilmemories]

same, last i heard there was 100 left, and i had a tiny sliver of hope. now though... welp. we better work on that cloning tech.

[@Chief2Moon]

Shauday Smith Commercial fishing nets result in the wasteful destruction of a wide spectrum of unreported non target species, this is fact.

[@KingsleyIII]

I like the narwhal's scientific name: _Monodon monoceros._ Greek: "one tooth, one horn." Fitting, as its "horn" is its only tooth.

[@pendlera2959]

"One tooth, one horn" sounds so poetic. Someone needs to write a long folksy ballad about narwhals.

[@creativelykirsty]

These videos are so important to me because I keep seeing this shift towards genetic technology and a movement away from curating and managing natural history collections which I feel like is such a mistake. Natural history is so important for these exact reasons! Who knows what information we may be able to glean from specimens collected in this century and others?

[@dirkbonesteel]

I agree with you upvote and all, but I do wonder if we are approaching a time when we can scan, weigh, and DNA sample the little guys. We aren't there yet, 10 years maybe? But I would like a time when an accurate image and predictive profile could be done. Can't help but think about the children of all the samples and other overly dramatic thoughts. Plus it wouldn't have to depend on a rare super devoted person running into just the right collection at just the right time

[@Sunila_DragonladyCH]

Natural history museums aren’t going anywhere. We are stronger than ever with more professionalism and more conservation efforts than ever. But also becoming more accessible to the general public and fulfilling our educational purpose. It it a fight I admit, you constantly have to convince politicians of this importance but most of them are open minded. The closing thought here is out credo « no matter how old, every item is important ». Our job is to make sure future generations have all the tools to make their lives better.

[@Inucat]

This is such a weird coincidence. The university I studied at has a veterinary department that *just* finished working on a whale that was stranded in the north of Germany in 2016 , as there aren't that many unis in Germany with a veterinary program one of the whales was given to the Gießen university to work on. Plus the natural history museum in Frankfurt (Senkenberg), one of my favorite museums as a child and also the place where I practiced walking as a child, just put up a new model of a baby whale. They have this big area where, besides the dinosaurs, they also have whale things, like a preserved embryo that was cut in half. I have always loved learning about whales

[@BlueAloe47]

I work in a museum in Alaska, and a couple years ago our mammals collection staff salvaged the skeleton of a humpback whale that washed up on shore. It's still being processed (with the beetles), but there are a lot of conversations about where the heck they're going to store it. Our collections space isn't THAT big...

[@Nirrrina]

Maybe you could coat it in something to protect it and then display it outside. Maybe under a carport type thing even. It might also help to draw visitors in.

[@Brainstorm69]

How cool is that echolocation antenna on that river dolphins head?!

[@DessertGeek]

When I was in undergrad, I (very) briefly worked in a museum photographing dolphin skulls for a project. At one point we couldn't find a bone, so we decided to look in the whale cabinets, which mainly housed vertebrae. They were massive, and haunting in a way I can't really explain. This brought me back. Keep doing awesome things!

[@Tassadar237]

Hey Ehmee! I’d love to see an episode about “backyard” birds, and what sort of research or science is done with or about them. (I know you love your bird-feeders). Does the Field Museum have records of things like changing migratory ranges of such birds? Did there used to be common backyard birds that are now rarely seen? What birds are being more commonly seen that used to be rare or only accidentals?

[@thebrainscoop]

this is a great idea!! thank you~

[@benedicteblaudeau5451]

Your videos are always so cool ! Entertaining but also informational and helping keeping us curious but also aware of importance goal and impact of research... so yeah great videos I’m glad I found this channel but it definitly deserve more attention !

[@cait_o_saurus]

Oh man would I love to explore that place! Another one for the bucket list, as well as the Smithsonian and Field Museum of course!

[@erin3]

So cool! I love whales. I am going to hear you speak when you come to the University of Minnesota in January. Very excited!

[@Julia69016]

This is the best channel on yt. I can't believe I get to watch these videos for free. Thank you so so much to Emily and the entire Brain Scoop channel. Thank you!

[@rachela2727]

I love this channel so much! Keep up the great work 💓

[@Jacquobite]

Some owls have asymmetrical ear openings for directional hearing. Similar to the sperm whale.

[@XSpImmaLion]

ROFL, I love that the leech dance got incorporated into the intro. xD

[@AlleyBetwixt]

Thanks, museums!!!

[@dekrameht]

Excellent content as usual!

[@patrickmccurry1563]

I wonder if anyone's done any testing for the resolution of river dolphins' echolocation compared to bottle noses'.

[@censusgary]

You’re back! Just this morning, I thought to myself, “I haven’t seen Emily for quite a while. Has ‘The Brain Scoop’ shut down?” No, you were just preparing an extra-cool episode! I’m glad it still has brains on it!

[@sesfx3]

I really enjoyed this video. The animations were so clear and really reinforced the audio.

[@patrickmccurry1563]

I imagine the asymmetrical skulls help them in a similar fashion to the asymmetrical ear holes of owls. I think even we have some minor asymmetry for telling directions of sound.

[@thebrainscoop]

I hadn't made that connection but yeah!! That's a really interesting thought!

[@greensteve9307]

I had that thought too! :)

[@gailbolton4891]

Thanks Emily! You are great fun to watch and hear! And you make my brain happy!

[@andreev1701]

Thank you for the amazing video. All the details can wide open any researcher mind. You let the interviewee explains as clear as possible. I have nothing else to say, I wish youtube was always like this.

[@rksnj6797]

This video was very interesting! I came to your channel through Caitlin Doughty's KZbin channel. So far I've enjoyed the videos I've seen. Being a science geek kid growing up in Philadelphia, it was wonderful! With access to The Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, and of course, one of the coolest, The Mutter Museum! Now as an adult, I don't get out o many museums anymore. Thank you for taking us to different and interesting places!

[@marcellusbhaskara5254]

Whale, those are mind-baleen facts

[@jakeanderson3625]

WOW!!! Great video. So fantastic to see you back at it!!!!!

[@elyasstephens8242]

Hello, I love your videos!!!

[@benb405]

These videos just get better and better

[@firmansyafei7763]

dear GOD, why channel like this only have 500 K subs. Emily should get pewd to host at least one episode

[@joelamontagnejr7290]

So you'll smell the dolphin skin and the ambergris but you won't smell the whale's ear wax. I suppose you have to draw the line somewhere. Thanks for everything, Emily! :)

[@zachwinfield7807]

It does not smell good. Combo of rotting fish/flesh with the hint of the ocean. Depends on how it was preserved as well.

[@joelamontagnejr7290]

Zach W - Well, that’s off the menu. How about ambergris gelato.

[@zachwinfield7807]

@@joelamontagnejr7290I've not handled ambergris. I expect it would taste musky. I did however picture it as a frozen yogurt topping, one that I would not use. It would be expensive and illegal in the US and Australia.

[@AlexDainisPhD]

Wow. Well this is now a bucket list destination. So so so cool!

[@coreywoods6549]

Took me 20 minutes to watch the video because I kept being too fascinated not to stop and google pictures

[@xoCHRISTINEox1]

Omg I was an intern here and was working on a project to get dna out of the collections dolphin teeth! It didn’t work in the time I was there but they were still working on the method

[@thewindgamer2607]

That’s super cool

[@sonoraorchard6153]

Amazing! I could watch hours of you guys showing off cetacean specimens! More please...

[@mxmm572]

oh, vids like that make my day

[@Pottery4Life]

Wonderful!! Thanks for sharing.

[@veovmart]

Thanks museums

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

That was very interesting! So nice to find another channel to enjoy and learn new things.

[@leosantoro1852]

I just stumbled across this channel. Love the host. shes so bubbly and entertaining to watch! =)

[@Jay-rg3ed]

I didn't know cetaceans were so fascinating. Great video!

[@meghannflair]

My mind is blown! 🤯 That was incredibly fascinating!!

[@x1101126]

Very good video. Btw,I really enjoy your voice, it's so pleasing ^_^

[@DuckettMMC]

Wow, there is just so much to learn about things and stuff. I love learning through your videos! I have a weird love hate relationship with big animals in water (scary) but they're still so majestic and wonderful. I just don't also want to be in the water. But this would be so cool to see in person. Thank goodness for museums!

[@Dyrwen]

These tooth morphologies are jawsome!

[@thebrainscoop]

omg yakob

[@mortensen2]

yah videos- So interesting- and I know we shouldn't comment on how people look but you are glowing- love the freckles! also, love your brain, love your manner, and love what you DO! keep it up!

[@annelisegoldman5310]

So does this mean that the isotopes in whale baleen can also be used to study paleoclimate? Perhaps not the most practical way to do so, but if oxygen isotope levels can be measured from the baleen, it seems like it would work.

[@MA-th4ts]

What the tusk!!!! So informative and uniquely intriguing....

[@mindaurra1525]

Really cool video! And your hair looks really great here

[@LoreBeast]

ok I need to see more from this warehouse!

[@sairbear444]

YAAAAAAAY!!!! Hi Emily, thank u!!! Made my day

[@glennpallast3131]

Sadly it looks like we have lost one of the Vaquita Porpoise in March of this year. Awesome video, learned some new material today. Keep going Emily, you totally rock.

[@dennisstempher9684]

Multiple mindblows! :-)

[@RazorSharpClaws]

I like the fun editing style of this one!

[@SubaruLove]

Great video. You're a fantastic KZbin channel hostess.

[@ninasoler6070]

Wooow like, awesome video thank youuuu !

[@zacharycates5485]

I love the Brain Scoop!!!!!

[@clairesavage1500]

I have a friend who didn't think narwhals were real animals. We tried to convince her they were real and she just thought we were teasing her.

[@HotelPapa100]

Well, its scientific name has "monoceros" in it, unicorn. So there's that...

[@johnblack4307]

I once met a foreign exchange student who thought fireflies were fake until she saw them, that must be pretty cool.

[@HotelPapa100]

@@johnblack4307 Fireflies in Georgia were really a sight to behold when I spent half a year there. In central Europe there are hardly any to be found, and I personally have never seen one flying; you usually just find the rare female sitting in a bush.

[@derjahgalgion]

*Whalesome!*

[@xaviersakurai9541]

Two videos in one month! Yipee!

[@atothayu]

this was soooo good!!

[@CrankyPantss]

That was an interesting video. Great job, Emily.

[@zach0520]

You have the coolest job!

[@pietrosigismondodelvalenti6371]

Lol, most of what we know about Narwhal is, they really do not trust us.

[@chuckvanderbildt]

If any of you want to read a fantastic and charming novel about river dolphins, among other things, I strongly suggest you give The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh a go. It's a real gem.

[@celtgunn9775]

Emily, of all the items I think your reaction to the ambergris made me laugh the most simply wondering how you couldn't possibly have not heard about it. I've heard of ambergris, landlocked here on the prairies of your home town. 😉

[@thebrainscoop]

I'd heard of ambergris but I thought it was created in some special organ or something! idk, but it DID smell fantastic.

[@celtgunn9775]

@@thebrainscoop Ah, Ok. Yeah I bet a chunk of ambergris would smell extra yummy like that I love musky perfume and mens cologne. Ambergris can be found in much, ~much~ larger pieces than the one the museum had. Nature fascinates me. 😁

[@charlottemarek3045]

My favorite video used to be the gem room but this one has stolen my ear wa...er, heart!

[@epicvendore]

I would love a series where you explore the storerooms of museums like the Smithsonian

[@mokko759]

The pygmy sperm whale's asymmetrical skull is much the same as an owl's asymmetrical skull. Owls have amazingly accurate hearing. Many species have asymmetrical ear holes that work the same way as the pygmy sperm whale's nasal passages. They are able to have incredibly accurate directional hearing because of the asymmetry. It's super cool.

[@fionnuala333]

loved this video! always been fascinated by whales

[@LeeMSnow]

I'm sorry, Emily... But a screenshot of 3:29 is just about the best thing I've seen in a while... lol

[@dirkbonesteel]

So glad I clicked this out of context before watching the video

[@catoninetales]

I often think I should work in a museum as a productive outlet for my hoarding tendencies. I love old things!

[@jrrobles1854]

Idk how I got here but I love this. I learned a lot 👍

[@براہمداغ]

Narwhals! Narwhals! Swimming in the ocean! Causing a commotion! Cause they are so awesome!

[@kathymorkassel3236]

❤🎉❤ going to the Smithsonian is on my bucket list ❤❤❤

[@eans8519]

wow I would love to visit the whalehouse! so many different types of remains!

[@Setheli216]

Whales & orcas are some of my favourite animals! I would love to work at this warehouse (or in just about any museum, really).

[@RichardSenn98]

Hey BrainScoop, I was just wondering if we might ever see a sneak peek at the new Native North American hall?

[@josorr]

This girl could steal my heart so easily...

[@user-uy1rg8td1v]

Chad only :(

[@SnowmansApartment]

Wow, first time i saw Baleen.. :o

[@matthewpuzzo8997]

"Inside the Whale Warehouse" (desperately tries not to scream for joy)

[@Emunuts]

Beautiful

[@veronika1159]

THAT WAS SO COOL!!!!!

[@2nd2none]

More content please!

this is so amazing!!!

[@GreenMonkeyToaster]

Re: cortisol in baleen and stress. I'm watching this right now, working in the lab while cleaning and cutting cow hair samples for the same type of analysis. Fun!

[@Kaffeyyyyy]

how do these perfume manufacturers get the ambergris? or how do people get them in general?

[@cliftoncoles6451]

Where is this in Maryland? Is it open to the public?

[@johnso9603]

this is soo cool!!

[@NewMessage]

Cetacean saturation successful.

[@Quantm179]

Production has gone up. Cute animations.

[@shinycoop]

I love cetaceans, so this video was perfect for me. You could even say that I had a WHALE of a time...

[@maxcap60]

Your hair looks great Emily.

[@ardapelle]

What mammal skull is that in the bottom right corner :o ?