Cetaceans(鲸目动物) are the longest-living animals in general, with some whale species surviving to over 200 years old. Given their size, their bodies contain much more cells than the human body. It’s a wonder how this is possible. “The more cells you have, the more likely one of those cells will become cancerous,” says Daniela Tejada-Martinez of Chile’s Austral University. “So, whether you’re huge or live a long time, you’ve got thousands and millions of cells that might be harmful.”

Despite being unbelievably huge, Cetaceans, on the other hand, have significantly lower cancer rates than most other animals, including humans.

Vincent Lynch, a professor from the University at Buffalo in New York, believes that there is a “super insignificant” reason for whales’ existence. He states, “They just developed improved cancer defense mechanisms(防御机制).” We need to know why and how they did so. The whole case is not as open-and-shut as many would assume. There is still so much to learn.

Tejada-Martinez and some colleagues have now looked at the evolution(进化) of 1,077 tumor suppressor genes(肿瘤抑制基因) (TSGs). They compared gene evolution in 15 other species and seven cetacean species in total. Positive selection was observed among the cetaceans for genes that control DNA damage, tumor spread, and the immune system(免疫系统). According to the researchers, cetaceans obtained and lost TSGs at a rate of 2.4 times faster than other species.

“It’s not like we’re going to take whale genes and implant them into humans and make them cancer resistant,” Lynch says. “However, if you can recognize the genes that play a part in tumor suppression in other species and find out what they’re doing, you may be able to produce a medicine that acts similarly in humans.”

A China plane struck a bird after taking off in Chengdu, Sichuan, and had to immediately return to the airport last October, and it wasn’t the first accident between an aircraft and a bird last year.

In fact, more than 20,000 wildlife strikes with aircraft were reported worldwide in 2023 — the vast majority of those animals being birds. The strikes can also include run-ins with bats or creatures on the ground, such as deer or turtles. Expanding wildlife populations, increases in number of aircraft movements, and a trend toward faster and quieter aircraft all have contributed to the increase in wildlife strikes.

Bird strikes are a hazard not just to commercial airplanes, but to all sorts of aircraft. However, historical data shows that damage is reported in a small percentage of incidents. Last year, 95% of the global strikes involved some kind of damage — and only 5% of those caused “substantial” damage.

Some of the most disturbing types of strikes can happen when one or more birds go into a plane’s engine, which might cause a lot of damage to the aircraft. The pilot would need to return to the airport or find a safe place to land.

In last October’s China plane incident, the Beijing-bound flight was able to land normally in Chengdu after taking into account what the airline described as security concerns. Senior captain Chen Jianguo said pilots are trained on how to respond if they have a bird strike in flight. The pilot in this case did exactly what he was trained to do.

“There are lots of things that are being used by airports to try to manage the habitat and birds around the airport,” said Chen Jianguo. Airports need to manage bird habitats to reduce or get rid of trees and plants that shelter birds, or address wetlands that can attract birds. Collecting data on what kinds of birds are involved in strikes is equally important so the risks can better be managed. Many airports also use audible signals to scare birds away, such as the sounds of fireworks.

For underwater photographer Brian Skerry, there are good days. The sun shines, the water's clear. But most days aren't like that. The whales don't show up, or there are particles (颗粒)in the water, or wind brings the waves, or the sun dips behind a cloud at the worst moment.

A National Geographic photography fellow and the 2017, Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year, Skerry free dives — which means no scuba tanks, no equipment except his fins, mask, and camera. Over the past two years he's spent nine weeks off the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica in a 30-Foot boat running after sperm whales around their warm-water habitat.

Sperm whales are intelligent, and mad, escaping to ocean depths when pursued. Still, their ranks have been thinned by whaling, overfishing, and other contact with humans, to the point that the world's conservationists assess them as either vulnerable or endangered. Skerry wants his photos to inform the scientific research and education efforts that will bring whales more attention and potentially some relief. “I feel a sense of responsibility and urgency to make people care about the marine giants,” he says. “I want to give them, for lack of a better word, some humanity.”

Scientists know sperm whales as the ocean's largest toothed animals that kills other animals. They have the biggest brains of any known animal, can weigh up to 45 tons, and have been observed displaying humanlike qualities, such as curiosity and playfulness. But despite their size and their expressiveness, sperm whales remain one of the ocean's biggest mysteries. Do they share complex ideas?