The Lucrative Discovery: Unveiling the Expensive Secret of Ambergris

A professor discovered a lump of ambergris, also known as "floating gold," worth $545,000 in the entrails of a dead sperm whale. Ambergris is a rare substance found floating in the sea and is highly valued for its use in high-end perfumes. It is formed when indigestible parts of cephalopods stick together in a whale's intestines. The scarcity of ambergris and its use in perfumes contribute to its high price. While synthetic alternatives exist, ambergris is still used in French perfumes, although its use is illegal in the US.