barry white whale

10 Dec, 2009 • posts i've written • No comments

All around the world, blue whales aren’t singing like they used to, and scientists have no idea why. The largest animals on Earth are singing in ever-deeper voices every year. Among the suggested explanations are ocean noise pollution, changing population dynamics and new mating strategies. But none of them is entirely convincing.

“The exciting possibility, I think, is that they’re all listening to each other,” said Whitehead. “This is a worldwide cultural phenomenon, and that’s very cool.”

Fascinating post in Wired, Blue Whale Song Mystery Baffles Scientists

Ten bucks says that the next publication that covers the story makes some awful reference to this phenomenon ‘going viral’ among whales.