Photo courtesy of Christian Miller, Ocean Alliance, Inc.
I was on a whale watch with my family four or five years ago off the coast of Gloucester, MA, when I learned something new. The guides told us about SnotBot. SnotBot, they said, was a drone that flew through whale blow — the stuff whales shoot from their blowholes when they surface. SnotBot collects this stuff because it contains whale snot, which scientists can analyze to get genetic information about whales.
When I heard this, I knew I’d have to write about it someday. Of course the snot part will make kids giggle. But more importantly, this is a new side of drones many people don’t know about. Yes, drones can be used to spy on people or even murder them. But in the right hands, they can help protect endangered whales, monkeys, penguins, and more. How amazing is that?
Here’s the story:
These flying robots protect endangered wildlife
Science News for Students, March 10, 2022
