Study reveals previously unknown component of whale songs

[Jim__]

From phys.org:

Researchers have known for decades that whales create elaborate songs, sometimes projecting their calls for miles underwater. A new study from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), however, has revealed a previously unknown element of whale songs that could aid this mode of communication, and may play a pivotal role in locating other whales in open ocean.

In a paper published in the November 2 issue of the online journal Biology Letters, WHOI biologist Aran Mooney describes approaching a group of humpback whales off the coast of the Hawaiian island of Maui. From aboard small research boat, he and his team measured two components of the whales' songs—pressure waves (the type of sound wave that pushes on human eardrums, allowing us to hear), and particle motion (the physical vibration of a substance as sound moves through it). Surprisingly, he notes, particle motion in the water propagated much further than expected.

"We threw our gear over the side, and let ourselves drift away from whales while measuring both particle motion and sound pressure. We didn't expect particle motion to be projected much at all—just a few meters away at most. But as we got progressively further away, the particle motion stayed loud and clear," he says.

…

Although Mooney's findings open the door for a range of evolutionary questions, he notes that it raises a much more immediate concern. If whales can in fact sense particle motion, similar vibrations caused by humans might interfere with the way the giant animals communicate.

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[nikto]

1. As long as whales don't use AutoTune, I'm fine

Whales need to keep it real.

[keithbvadu2]

2. Maybe this could be developed more for our own communications capabilities

[Nitram]

5. Not very many particle in space...

Sound can't travel through a vacuum.

[Nitram]

4. this is fascinating, and potentially ground-breaking.

If we've been completely missing a vital piece component in the way whales share information, it could potentially result in the discovery of a real language, or, at the least, a more sophisticated means of communication among whales.

[Thor_MN]

6. I'd expect the particle motion is saying "Trump? Are you F'ing kidding me?"