✉news WarNuclear first seen 1 d ago, last 15 h ago, peak #11
Nuclear testing left a lasting mark in killer whale teeth
Original: Nuclear testing preserved in killer whale teeth
Researchers at the University of St Andrews have shown that fallout from mid-twentieth-century nuclear weapons testing is preserved in the teeth of killer whales, creating a measurable radiocarbon signature. The finding offers scientists a reliable way to determine the ages of individual orcas, a notoriously difficult task, and could improve understanding of the species' lifespan, reproduction and population dynamics.
Why now: The study offers a new method for ageing killer whales, a long-standing challenge in marine research.
University of St Andrewskiller whales
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- Nuclear testing preserved in killer whale teeth · University of St Andrews
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