A scientific institution preserving natural history records and collections
Researchers have identified the deepest, oldest whale graveyard in the southeastern Indian Ocean, dating back about 5.3 million years. Using deep-sea submersibles, teams mapped 485 whale-fossil sites and five modern whale falls, revealing a thriving deep-sea ecosystem around whale carcasses. The find spans up to 23,000 feet below the surface and covers a 1,200 km corridor.