Whale Science

Atlantic white-sided dolphins make surprising journeys across the ocean

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For the first time, scientists have documented Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Leucopleurus acutus) crossing the North Atlantic Ocean, revealing previously unknown long-distance movements and identifying a key feeding area in the Irminger Sea between Greenland and Iceland. A journey across an ocean Researchers used satellite tags to follow 23 dolphins tagged in the Faroe Islands and […]

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Fraser’s dolphins in the Caribbean: Social island hoppers

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New study from the Caribbean Cetacean Society reveals that one of the ocean’s least-studied dolphins has found a stronghold in the island chain stretching from Grenada to Anguilla Have you heard of Fraser’s dolphins? Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) wasn’t formally described until 1956, and scientists didn’t actually see one alive in the wild until 1971.

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The Secret to Humpback Whales’ Bubble-Net Feeding: It’s All in the Flippers

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New research shows that humpback whales’ oversized, wing-like flippers give them unmatched agility among baleen whales, enabling their unique bubble-net feeding strategy that traps prey with tight, high-speed spirals of bubbles. Whales, like planes, are built for efficiency in a fluid medium. Both possess long, streamlined bodies: some sleek like private jets, others stockier like

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Can Whales Smell? The Surprising World of Cetacean Olfaction

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If you’ve ever witnessed a whale’s powerful exhalation at the surface, you’ve likely experienced the notorious “whale breath”, that pungent cloud that can clear a whale-watching boat deck in seconds. But while humans can certainly detect these oceanic odors, the question remains: Can whales themselves smell? The answer is more complex than you might expect,

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Whales Don’t Ask for Directions: Here’s How They Always Know the Way

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The open ocean does not come with road signs. No friendly dolphins waving you in the right direction. Definitely no Google Maps. Yet, year after year, whales migrate across entire ocean basins with uncanny accuracy. What is their secret… and can they teach us the way? Scientists are still piecing together the full picture, but

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New Genome Assembly Approach Unlocks Secrets of Critically Endangered Dolphins in New Zealand

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Scientists have successfully assembled the first high-quality reference genomes for New Zealand’s Hector’s and critically endangered Māui dolphins, despite working with degraded DNA samples. The new study reveals these dolphins have maintained small populations for thousands of years, with Māui dolphins showing 40% lower genetic diversity than their Hector’s cousins. The innovative genome assembly approach

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The Great Whale Conveyor Belt: Earth’s Largest Mammals Keep Oceans Thriving

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Each year, the world’s largest mammals embark on epic journeys spanning thousands of miles across the planet’s oceans. However, large whales aren’t just impressive travelers – they’re also operating what scientists have called “the Great Whale Conveyor Belt,” the largest long-distance nutrient transport on Earth. An exciting study just published in Nature Communications has quantified

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Super-sized Sacrifice: The Enormous Costs of Being a Humpback Whale Mom

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Imagine being a humpback whale mom-to-be. You have been pregnant for 10 months. Your 2600-pound calf is due in just four to six weeks. Over the summer and fall, you have consumed as much food as possible, preparing for the journey ahead. Soon, you will embark on a 3000-mile migration south to the Hawaiian breeding

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Eyes in the Sky: Drones Transform Sperm Whale Research

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Traditional sperm whale identification has long relied on photographing tail flukes from boats, capturing the distinctive notches and patterns that make each whale unique. However this method has a significant limitation: researchers can only identify whales when they perform their characteristic deep dive, raising their tails above the surface. Now, drone technology is opening new

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Seal singers in Antarctica: From love songs to ultrasonic vocalizations

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Seals are among the most fascinating creatures to call Antarctica’s icy waters and shores home. Their remote, vast habitat makes studying them a real challenge, and scientists are only beginning to uncover the secrets of these elusive animals. Among the most intriguing mysteries? Their haunting, otherworldly vocalizations. We’ve heard about the enchanting songs of humpback

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