The lines on this graph tell a whale of a tale. Literally. The lines of this graph show the first recorded EKG of a whale in the wild. For much of the 20th century, scientists wanted to know if there was a relationship between heart size and PR interval, which is the length of time it takes electrical impulses to travel across the heart telling it to contract, causing it to beat. These scientists studied mammals ranging in size from rats to elephants and even killer whales, but to have the most data possible, they needed to go larger.

In the summer of 1991, off the coast of Newfoundland, scientists were successful, capturing this data from a humpback whale.

Analysis of the EKG reading you see here helped researchers determine that the PR interval for a humpback whale is extremely short relative to the size of the heart. This new information forced scientists to rethink some of their theories of electrophysiology, but that’s not a bad thing! Science is all about asking questions and learning, and asking more questions based on new knowledge.

Makers: Earl Bakken, Dr. Frits Meijler, His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard, Dr. Hein Wellens, Ken Brennan
Date of Creation: 1991

Curator’s Note

This piece was donated to The Bakken Museum by its founder, Earl Bakken, upon his passing as part of an extensive collection that we are currently preparing for the public. Over the next few months, keep your eyes out for more sneak peeks!