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Can whales swallow humans? For anyone scared of the ocean or Bible stories, science can put some of those fears to rest. The video below by House of the Future points out that only one species of whale even has a throat big enough to fit a human. And yes, you would suffocate or be crushed or burned in acid if that happened. Thankfully, the likelihood of you ending up in a sperm whale’s digestive tract is essentially zero. The sperm whale is massive and regularly feeds on giant squid. If you were digested by a sperm whale, parts of you may resurface in ambergris, a waxy substance that eases the passing of hard objects like squid beaks. As mentioned in the video, people use it in perfumes. It is rare and a recent 280-pound chunk of it sold for $1.5 million. As shown in Finding Nemo, humpbacks and other large species of whale are filter feeders and eat krill and small fish. The video points out that their throats aren’t big enough to even swallow human body parts, much less a whole human. But the risk isn’t just if you’re swallowed. Their mouths are big enough to hold a human. If they dive with you in there, you could suffocate. A lobster diver that found himself in a whale’s mouth survived because he had scuba equipment to help him breathe. Two kayakers also ended up in a whale’s mouth. Humpback whales use a strategy called bubble net feeding. They swim to the surface with their huge mouths open in order to catch schools of fish. Anything in the way also ends up in their mouths and the kayakers were much too close.  Hopefully the researchers trying to translate sperm whale language are making progress so we can avoid such unpleasantries. What about the stat at the beginning of the video, that you have a one in a million chance of a whale swallowing you? Since there’s no reason to think anyone ever has been, this is closer to one in 107 billion. Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. Swimming with whales has been described as one of the most breathtaking experiences on Earth, and today you get to try it out! As you get so close to the majestic beasts that you can almost pat them, you realize you’ve never felt this in touch with nature before. But then everything goes dark, and your body is tossed around aggressively. You’ve just been scooped up in a whale’s mouth. You struggle to fight your way out, but what are your chances against a 15-ton animal? Here’s How to Survive Getting Swallowed by a Whale. Most people would tell you that being swallowed by a whale is an immediate death sentence. And they’d have good reason for it. But that doesn’t mean that survival is impossible. Just ask Rainer Schimpf. In 2007, he was gobbled up by a whale while taking pictures off South Africa’s coast. He immediately held his breath until the whale promptly spit him back out. But what if you weren’t released so quickly? How could you avoid being sliced up by the whale’s teeth? Is there any way to survive the burning acids of its four stomachs? And when would be a bad time to make your escape? Here are some ways that you could get out alive. Oh, and just to be clear, there’s only one type of whale that could theoretically swallow a human whole. Most people would think that’s the blue whale. Blue whales have giant mouths that could fit hundreds of people inside, and they keep their mouths wide open as they travel through the ocean. But the baleen plates inside their mouths would prevent a person from being swallowed. Even if someone did make it past those, the blue whale’s esophagus is only 25 cm (10 in) across — too small to allow a human through. The only whales that would have no trouble swallowing us humans are sperm whales, so let’s see how we can avoid becoming their dinner. Number 1: Curl up into a tight ball.Bring your arms and legs into your body as tightly as you can, and lower your chin to your chest. You need to curl up into the tightest ball you can. This will minimize your body’s surface area, and decrease the chance you’ll get chomped by the whale’s teeth. Sperm whales have 18-26 teeth on each side of their jaws, and each tooth weighs up to 1 kg (2.2 lbs). Even if you were curled up into a ball, you’d still be lucky to make it through the mouth without losing an arm or leg, but at least you’d have a chance. Number 2: Don’t panic.Yes, we realize that it’s easier said than
done, but there is no time for fear. In a situation like this, you have to use your instincts. Number 3: Wear a protective suit.Some people might think you’re a
little paranoid when you show up to swim with the whales in your elaborate wetsuit, but it could very well save your life. You would want a suit that’s resistant to hydrochloric acid, so that you could survive in the whale’s stomachs. Number 4: Wait to be spit up.It worked for our friend Rainer Schimpf, so why couldn’t it work for you? He was lucky enough to be spit out before he was swallowed, but in your case it’s going to be a little more difficult. And gross. Luckily for you, sperm whales need to vomit every several hours. So if you were able to survive long enough, you could be spit up with it. But don’t get too excited. Because surviving all depends on where you get spit out. Whales can swim at a depth of 100 m (3,290 ft), whereas the human body can only swim at a depth of 20 m (65 ft) without assistance. So if the whale’s thinking of spewing you out on the deep part of his swim, you’ve probably got a better chance living through it if you just stay inside. Number 5: Avoid Sperm WhalesIt might seem like common sense, but if you want to avoid being swallowed by a whale, how about you just stay away from the only ones that can swallow humans? If another type of whale scoops you up in their mouth, you’ll have a much better chance of survival. Take the humpback whale, for instance. When this whale approaches a potential meal, such as a school of krill, they propel themselves forward with a burst of energy, open their mouths wide and let whatever is in their way flood in. When something larger than krill enters their mouths, they’ll use their tongues to force it back out. As you have probably gathered by now, even though it is technically possible to survive being swallowed by a whale, it’s extremely unlikely. But luckily for us, whales are generally not that interested in humans. If you are going to worry about anything eating you in the water, it should probably be sharks. Sources
Would you survive being swallowed by a whale?Despite occasional reports of whales scooping people into their mouths, it's incredibly rare—and for all but one species, swallowing a human is physically impossible. On Friday, a lobster diver made headlines when he described miraculously surviving being “swallowed” by a humpback whale off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
How long could you survive in the stomach of a whale?Swallowed alive, man survives inside whale's stomach for three days.
What happens if a whale swallows you whole?As soon as you start enjoying the light, though, the whale's digestive system will begin to move your body through its other stomachs. While going through the rest of the guts, more acids will break down more of your skin, organs, and muscle. Eventually, you'll reach the anus, and your body will be ejected.
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How long would you survive if swallowed by a whale?
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