It's hard to imagine that we actually share a common ancestor with whales. Yet the fact that we both breathe air and give birth to live young proves that we are, in fact, distant cousins of the large marine beasts. Scientists are now using this fact to explore how these majestic creatures view their world by examining their eyes. This article is a beautiful dislpay of how distant relations between mammals can help scientists understand the experiences of other animals, no matter how large. Read on to find out how whale eyes can unlock the secret to their view of the ocean blue. 

Photo: July, 2009. Ella's eye. (© Bryant Austin/studio: cosmos)

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