In Finding Nemo’s most harrowing scene, Marlin and Dory get swallowed by a great blue whale. Only later do we learn that the whale hasn’t eaten them at all — blue whales eat krill, not anxious and forgetful fish — but safely carries them to P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney (repeat 10 times). Perhaps it’s occurred to some viewers: How did the whale swallow all that water (plus our heroes) without inhaling it and drowning? Scientists didn’t know the answer either — until now. Nearly 20 years after we beheld this benevolent chauffeur whale, we know precisely how such a feat is anatomically possible.
