Mutant Whale Cruises Ocean's Depth

apparently much of the research remains classified, but marine biologists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have compiled 12 years worth of hydrophone data to track the movements of a lone whale who has been consistent in not adhering to typical baleen whale (the ones that filter feed) migration patterns. unfailing in its irregularity, this "whale afield" sings at 53 hertz -much higher than the typical 20 hertz. the latest print edition of New Scientist features the story on the research, though specific information is not yet available (see title link for the online version).

the great leviathan, traditionally thought to be the beast of the sea, is a creature that has long since captured my fascination. if you consider that the length of time whales have been evolving on this planet far outweighs that of all other mammals, and certainly humanity, you may begin to wonder at the complexity and vastness of the social and communication networks that surely must have existed between the ocean's whales of yore. "have existed" because the radius with which whale songs can travel through the water has been drastically reduced by increasing ambient noise from human activity. think back to a time where the only disruption would have been an intervening landmass, so that whales in the Antarctic could sing to those in the North Pacific. and we understand so little.