Oregon officials wanted to solve a big, smelly problem with science. But thanks to a small miscalculation, they turned a peaceful beach into a Michael Bay disaster instead. The day was complete with whale guts, flying sand, and one very unlucky car.
In Nov. 1970, the small coastal town of Florence, Oregon, had a big problem. An eight-ton, 45-foot sperm whale had washed up on the shore, bloating in the cold air and threatening to explode on its own. The smell was unbearable, and local officials needed a quick solution. They found one very quick one, but unfortunately, not very sustainable.
