Nicole Brandt's Science Desk Dig

It’s baleen from a bowhead whale. Baleen are essentially filters in a whale’s mouth that are made up of keratin (the same protein our hair and fingernails are made of). Instead of teeth, baleen whales use these unique plates to filter small fish and krill from the water. The bowhead whale has some of the longest baleen, with some pieces measuring over 10 feet long. Scientists use baleen to learn more about bowhead whales, including their age. In the past, whalers used to harvest baleen for many products including women's corsets, eyeglasses, and fishing rod tips, to name a few. Due to its flexible but strong nature, people used baleen similar to how we use plastic today.