Ask Dr. Universe

Dear Dr. Universe: Why are whales so large? – Hannah, Grand Island, Neb.

Dear Hannah,

Of all the whales that live in the sea, the largest are blue whales. In fact, blue whales are the biggest known animals to have ever lived on our planet. Yep—even bigger than dinosaurs.

That’s what I found out from my friend Enrico Pirotta. He’s a researcher at Washington State University who is really curious about blue whales. Using math and science, he’s helping us learn more about blue whales and how they migrate along the Pacific Coast.

Pirotta explained that when baby blue whales are born, they are alre...