Blue whales—the largest animals ever known to have lived on Earth—are so colossal that their sheer size defies imagination. Just to give perspective, their hearts can weigh over 400 pounds (180 kg), roughly the size of a small piano. Their major arteries, such as the aorta, are so wide—up to 9 inches (23 cm) across—that a small child or even an adult could hypothetically swim through them. These enormous vessels pump blood with such power that you can hear a blue whale’s heartbeat from over 2 miles away. This incredible scale showcases not only the biological extremes of nature, but also just how vast and mysterious life in our oceans can be.
Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal—great for spotting danger on the savanna.
Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to many animals.
Innovative Pugedon machines in Istanbul let people recycle bottles and cans to dispense food and water for stray dogs and cats.
