Women's Stockings Used to Measure Whales' Sex Drive

Discoblog
By Brett Israel
Oct 28, 2009 9:49 PMNov 19, 2019 8:19 PM
whale-web.gif

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

To see if a whale's libido is going full-throttle, grab a pair of nylons and head to the ocean, reports the New Scientist:

For the first time, testosterone and progesterone—two key hormones that signal whether whales are pregnant, lactating or in the mood to mate—have been extracted from whales' lung mucus, captured in nylon stockings dangled from a pole over their blowholes as they surface to breathe.

This method could allow scientists to study whales without having to slaughter them, and could be used to simply give them a pregnancy test to try to learn why some species aren't breeding, say the authors of the study. Related Content: Discoblog: Japanese Whaling Redux: American Scientists Say Slaughter Was Unnecessary Discoblog: Is Bleaching Next? Whales Look at Teeth When Picking Mates Discoblog: Detectors Catch Whales Swimming Near New York City

Image: flickr / percita

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2025 LabX Media Group