In 1891, newspapers reported the story of James Bartley, a whaler who was swallowed whole by his prey.
Supposedly, Bartley spent as long as 36 hours in the belly of the beast before his crew caught the whale and rescued their crewmate.
And this tale is far from unique.
Various novels, myths, and religious texts depict figures swallowed at sea — with some even making a home for themselves in the creatures' cavernous mouths.
Unfortunately, if someone actually were swallowed by a whale, they would likely be crushed.
But if they somehow survived, they might have a chance to escape during their captor's bathroom break.
Whales frequently surface to take in air and let out massive plumes of waste.
And while swimming in this slurry might seem more disgusting than living in these creatures, whale poop is much more desirable than it may seem.
In fact, it may be one of the most important substances in the ocean — and the world.
To understand why, we need to look at some of the ocean's most ubiquitous organisms: phytoplankton.
