Spying on Whales : The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures

The Smithsonian's star paleontologist takes us to the ends of the earth and to the cutting edge of whale research Whales are among the largest, most intelligent, deepest diving species to have ever lived on our planet. They evolved from land-roaming, dog-like creatures into animals that move like fish, breathe like us, can grow to 300,000 pounds, live 200 years and roam entire ocean basins. Whales fill us with terror, awe, and affection—yet we know hardly anything about them, and they only enter our awareness when they die, struck by a ship or stranded in the surf. Why did it take whales over 50 million years to evolve to such big sizes, and how do they eat enough to stay that big? How did their ancestors return from land to the sea? Why do they beach themselves? What do their lives tell us about our oceans, and evolution as a whole? Importantly, in the sweepstakes of human-driven habitat and climate change, will whales survive? Nicholas Pyenson's research has... A Leading Scientist Dives Into The Secret Lives Of Whales, From Their Evolutionary Past To Today's Cutting Edge Of Science. Whales Are Among The Largest, Most Intelligent, Deepest Diving Species To Have Ever Lived On Our Planet. They Evolved From Land-roaming, Dog-sized Creatures Into Animals That Move Like Fish, Breathe Like Us, Can Grow To 300,000 Pounds, Live Two Hundred Years, And Travel Entire Ocean Basins. Whales Fill Us With Terror, Awe, And Affection--yet There Is Still So Much We Don't Know About Them. Why Did It Take Whales Over Fifty Million Years To Evolve To Such Big Sizes, And How Do They Eat Enough To Stay That Big? How Did Their Ancestors Return To The Sea From Land--and What Can Their Lives Tell Us About Evolution As A Whole? Importantly, In The Sweepstakes Of Human-driven Habitat And Climate Change, Will Whales Survive? Nick Pyenson's Research Has Given Us The Answers To Some Of Our Biggest Questions About Whales. He Takes Us Deep Inside The Smithsonian's Unparalleled Fossil Collections, To Frigid Antarctic Waters, And To The Arid Desert In Chile, Where Scientists Race Against Time To Document The Largest Fossil Whale Site Ever Found. Full Of Rich Storytelling And Scientific Discovery, Spying On Whales Spans The Ancient Past To An Uncertain Future--all To Better Understand The Most Enigmatic Creatures On Earth.--dust Jacket. Whales Are Among The Largest, Most Intelligent, Deepest Diving Species To Have Ever Lived On Our Planet. They Evolved From Land-roaming, Dog-sized Creatures Into Animals That Move Like Fish, Breathe Like Us, Can Grow To 300,000 Pounds, Live Two Hundred Years, And Travel Entire Ocean Basins. Pyenson Dives Into The Secret Lives Of Whales, From Their Evolutionary Past To Today's Cutting Edge Of Science, And Shares The Answers To Some Of Our Biggest Questions About Whales. -- Adapted From Dust Jacket. Part I: Past. How To Know A Whale ; Mammals Like No Other ; The Stories Bones Tell ; Time Travel On The Fossil Whale Highway ; The Afterlife Of A Whale ; Rock Picks And Lasers ; Cracking The Case Of Cerro Ballena -- Part Ii: Present. The Age Of Giants ; The Ocean's Utmost Bones ; A Discovery At Hvalfj�or�ur ; Physics And Flensing Knives ; The Limits Of Living Things -- Part Iii: Future. Arctic Time Machines ; Shifting Baselines ; All The Ways To Go Extinct ; Evolution In The Anthropocene ; Whalebone Junction. Nick Pyenson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. “A palaeontological howdunnit...[Spying on Whales] captures the excitement of...seeking answers to deep questions in cetacean science.” —Nature Called “the best of science writing” (Edward O. Wilson) and named a best book by Popular Science, a dive into the secret lives of whales, from their four-legged past to their perilous present. Whales are among the largest, most intelligent, deepest diving species to have ever lived on our planet. They evolved from land-roaming, dog-sized creatures into animals that move like fish, breathe like us, can grow to 300,000 pounds, live 200 years and travel entire ocean basins. Whales fill us with terror, awe, and affection--yet there is still so much we don't know about them. Why did it take whales over 50 million years to evolve to such big sizes, and how do they eat enough to stay that big? How did their ancestors return from land to the sea--and what can their lives tell us about evolution as a whole? Importantly, in the sweepstakes of human-driven habitat and climate change, will whales survive? Nick Pyenson's research has given us the answers to some of our biggest questions about whales. He takes us deep inside the Smithsonian's unparalleled fossil collections, to frigid Antarctic waters, and to the arid desert in Chile, where scientists race against time to document the largest fossil whale site ever found. Full of rich storytelling and scientific discovery, Spying on Whales spans the ancient past to an uncertain future--all to better understand the most enigmatic creatures on Earth. The Smithsonian's star paleontologist takes us to the ends of the earth and to the cutting edge of whale research Whales are among the largest, most intelligent, deepest diving species to have ever lived on our planet. They evolved from land-roaming, dog-like creatures into animals that move like fish, breathe like us, can grow to 300,000 pounds, live 200 years and roam entire ocean basins. Whales fill us with terror, awe, and affection--yet we know hardly anything about them, and they only enter our awareness when they die, struck by a ship or stranded in the surf. Why did it take whales over 50 million years to evolve to such big sizes, and how do they eat enough to stay that big? How did their ancestors return from land to the sea? Why do they beach themselves? What do their lives tell us about our oceans, and evolution as a whole? Importantly, in the sweepstakes of human-driven habitat and climate change, will whales survive? Nick Pyenson's research has given us the answers to some of our biggest questions about whales. Nick's rich storytelling takes us to the cool halls deep inside the Smithsonian's priceless fossil collection, to the frigid fishing decks on Antarctic whaling stations, and to the blazing hot desert of Chile where scientists race against time to document the largest fossil whalebone site on earth. Spying on Whales is science writing at its best: an author who is an incredible, passionate writer, at the forefront of his field, on a topic that invokes deep fascination. A dive into the secret lives of whales, from their evolutionary past to today's cutting edge of science Whales are among the largest, most intelligent, deepest diving species to have ever lived on our planet. They evolved from land-roaming, dog-sized creatures into animals that move like fish, breathe like us, can grow to 300,000 pounds, live 200 years and travel entire ocean basins. Whales fill us with terror, awe, and affection--yet there is still so much we don't know about them. Why did it take whales over 50 million years to evolve to such big sizes, and how do they eat enough to stay that big? How did their ancestors return from land to the sea--and what can their lives tell us about evolution as a whole? Importantly, in the sweepstakes of human-driven habitat and climate change, will whales survive? Nick Pyenson's research has given us the answers to some of our biggest questions about whales. He takes us deep inside the Smithsonian's unparalleled fossil collections, to frigid Antarctic waters, and to the arid desert in Chile, where scientists race against time to document the largest fossil whale site ever found. Full of rich storytelling and scientific discovery, Spying on Whales spans the ancient past to an uncertain future--all to better understand the most enigmatic creatures on Earth