Sperm Whale’s Fatty Head Organ Confirmed as Ship-Sinking Weapon
New research confirms that the spermaceti organ in sperm whales' heads functions as a battering ram, capable of delivering impacts strong enough to sink ships. This validates a theory proposed by 19th-century whaler Owen Chase, who survived the sinking of the Essex, the incident that inspired Herman Melville's Moby Dick. While the organ was historically harvested for oil, its role in combat and social behavior is only now being fully understood through modern drone footage and biomechanical analysis.