Benjamin Carr, Ph.D. π¨π»βπ»π§¬Flying with #whales: #Drones are remaking #marinemammal #research
What if scientists could collect snot by somehow flying over the whale? Researchers can glean much information from whale snot, including DNA sequence, its sex, whether it is pregnant, and its microbiome.
After many experiments, Kerrβs idea turned into what is known as #SnotBot: a drone fitted with 6 petri dishes that collect a whaleβs snot by flying over as it surfaces and exhales through its blowhole.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/flying-with-whales-drones-are-remaking-marine-mammal-research/
What if scientists could collect snot by somehow flying over the whale? Researchers can glean much information from whale snot, including DNA sequence, its sex, whether it is pregnant, and its microbiome.
After many experiments, Kerrβs idea turned into what is known as #SnotBot: a drone fitted with 6 petri dishes that collect a whaleβs snot by flying over as it surfaces and exhales through its blowhole.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/flying-with-whales-drones-are-remaking-marine-mammal-research/
Tiago Mendes-Costa
Useless Facts, Badly Drawn