Everyone knows it: marine mammals are remarkably well-adapted to life in the ocean. But how do they manage to dive to depths of more than 3,000 meters—where the pressure would be crushing for a human—and hold their breath for more than three hours? What actually happens inside their bodies when they disappear beneath the surface?

Contrary to popular belief, cetaceans do not “breathe” underwater: they, too, must regularly return to the surface to replenish the air in their lungs. Their incredible ability lies elsewhere: over the course of their evolution, they have developed a whole range of physiological adaptations that allow them to store and conserve oxygen, slow down their metabolism, and withstand the effects of pressure.

The sperm whale dives to dizzying depths in search of its prey. Beaked whales are among the best divers in the animal kingdom. Several thousand meters below the surface, in near-total darkness and under pressure hundreds of times greater than what we experience at the surface, these animals hunt and move with astonishing efficiency. How do they do it?

The lecture by Thierry Jauniaux, a veterinarian and marine mammal specialist at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at ULiège, explores the fascinating mechanisms that make these feats possible. How do cetaceans’ blood and muscles store oxygen? How do their hearts and circulatory systems adapt during a dive? What happens to the air in their lungs as pressure increases? And how do their bodies avoid decompression sickness, so dreaded by human divers?

Beyond the records, these feats are the result of an extraordinary evolutionary history, shaped by millions of years of natural selection. They allow cetaceans to explore a world inaccessible to most other animals—and invite us to rethink the very limits of life.

Dive with Thierry Jauniaux to discover the giants of the abyss and be amazed by the incredible physiological secrets that allow cetaceans to push the boundaries of diving.

Practical Information

6:00 p.m.: Doors open

6:30 PM: Introduction

6:45 PM – 8:15 PM: Lecture

8:15 PM – 8:45 PM: Q&A

8:45 PM – 10:30 PM: Networking & Bar

Free admission. Reservations are required. 

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