Using Whale Songs and Seismometers to Reveal Deep Secrets of the Oceanic Crust
The songs of fin whales can be used for seismic imaging of the oceanic crust, providing scientists a novel alternative to conventional surveying, a new…
Whales News
How Whale Poo Is Powering the World’s Rainforests
Big animals have the power to change the face of our planet: they sculpt woodlands, power ecosystems and can even help to fertilize the interior…
What’s Killing Killer Whales? Pathology Reports on More Than 50 Killer Whales in the Northeast Pacific and Hawaii
Pathology reports on more than 50 killer whales stranded over nearly a decade in the northeast Pacific and Hawaii show that orcas face a variety…
Blue Whales Return to South Georgia After Near Extinction From Whaling 50 Years Ago
An international research team led by UK scientists has revealed the return of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia,…
Extreme Diving in Mammals: Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Breaks Record With 3 Hour 42 Minute Dive
The blue whale might be one of the most enigmatic creatures on the planet, but the true megastars of the diving world are Cuvier’s beaked…
Tracking Humanity’s Latest Plastics and Chemical Toxins in Stranded Whales and Dolphins
As humanity develops new types of plastics and chemicals, researchers are constantly trying to keep up with understanding how these contaminants affect the environment and…
Cosmic Bursts of Radio Static From Solar Storms Could Scramble Whales’ Navigational Sense
Gray whales 4.3 times more likely to strand during a cosmic burst of radio static. When our sun belches out a hot stream of charged…
Scientists Discover Why Whales Migrate – They Return to the Tropics to Shed Their Skin
First suggested for killer whales, skin molt may drive long-distance migration for all whales that forage in cold waters. Whales undertake some of the longest…
Whales Use Stealth and Deception to Feed on Fish [Video]
Small fish are speedy and easy to scare. So how is it that a giant humpback whale, attacking at speeds about as fast as a…
Recovering From the Brink of Extinction, Humpback Whale Population Rises Faster Than Expected
A population of humpback whales in the South Atlantic has rebounded after a near-miss with extinction. Intense pressure from the whaling industry in the 20th…
Groundbreaking Video Captures Whale Bubble-Net Feeding From a Whale’s POV
It is one of the most unique things you will see in the wild. A humpback whale swims in a circular pattern while blowing bubbles…
Researchers Devise Innovative Method to Accurately Weigh Whales Using Drones
How do you weigh a living whale? The obvious response is very carefully, but scientists can’t exactly put these large marine mammals on a scale….
Electronic Tracking Provides New Insight Into Behaviors of Two Largest Whale Species
How long does a whale feed? New data gives insight into blue and fin whale behavior. Researchers using electronic tags were able to monitor blue…
Paleontologists Identify a New Species of Ancient Whale
University of Otago paleontologists are rewriting the history of New Zealand’s ancient whales by describing a previously unknown genus of baleen whale, alive more than…
Whale Genome Reveals Extraordinary Evolutionary History
For the first time, scientists of the German Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, Goethe University, and the University of Lund in Sweden have deciphered…
Blue Whales Use 360 Degree Body Rolls to Get at Krill
Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) reveal their agile side thanks to video cameras and motion sensors strapped to their bodies. The scientists equipped 22 B. musculus…
First Sighting of the Spade-Toothed Whale
The spade-toothed whale (Mesoplodon traversii) is a little-known species of beaked whales. They were first discovered in 1872 when bone fragments were found on Pitt…
Georgia Aquarium’s Beluga Plan Raises Concerns About Whale Culture
The Georgia Aquarium’s controversial plan to move 18 wild beluga whales into captivity has met with fierce opposition. Opponents state that their capture was inhumane,…
