Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
18 results for "sperm whales"
Scientists can now follow sperm whales beneath the ocean for months at a time using a quiet underwater robot that eavesdrops on their conversations from 12 kilometers away. The glider moves silently through the water, tracking which individual whale is speaking.
Scientists have discovered that sperm whales communicate using sounds remarkably similar to human vowels. This breakthrough brings us closer to understanding one of the ocean's most mysterious creatures.
Scientists discovered that sperm whale communication mirrors human language structure, including vowels and tonal patterns remarkably similar to our speech. The finding reveals these ocean giants share more with us than anyone imagined.
Scientists studying sperm whales off Dominica have discovered the ocean giants communicate using vowel sounds and language structures remarkably similar to human speech. The breakthrough brings us closer to understanding what these intelligent creatures are actually saying to each other.
Scientists discovered that sperm whale clicks follow structured rules remarkably similar to human speech, bringing us closer to understanding how these ocean giants communicate. The breakthrough could one day help humans talk with another species on their own terms.
Scientists discovered that sperm whales use vowel-like sounds in their clicks, similar to how humans speak. The pattern suggests these ocean giants may be communicating with a system far more complex than we ever imagined.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F2f%2F95%2F2f95c9c9-9c5d-472d-836e-3ded41e64388%2Fscreenshot_2026-03-27_at_41323pm.png)
Researchers captured the first-ever video of sperm whales working together like midwives to deliver a calf and teach it to breathe. The footage reveals a type of cooperation never seen before outside of primates.
Researchers captured the first-ever footage of a sperm whale giving birth, with 10 female whales working together to help the newborn calf survive its first hour of life. The rare video reveals how these ocean giants form tight-knit communities to protect their youngest members.
For the first time ever, researchers captured sperm whales helping a mother give birth and supporting her newborn calf in a remarkable display of cooperation. The discovery reveals behavior dating back 36 million years that only whales and primates share.
For the first time ever, researchers captured footage of sperm whales helping another whale give birth, a behavior previously seen only in primates. The groundbreaking 2023 footage from Dominica reveals these ocean giants have more in common with humans than we thought.
Rare footage captured off Dominica shows 11 sperm whales working together to help deliver a calf and keep it afloat. Scientists say this level of teamwork is almost never seen outside of primates.
Scientists captured the first known footage of sperm whales helping a mother give birth, including whales who weren't even family. For six hours, the pod worked together to keep the newborn calf breathing at the surface.
Scientists witnessed something never seen before: a team of female sperm whales working together to help deliver and protect a newborn calf. The discovery reveals emotional intelligence once thought unique to humans and our closest primate relatives.
Researchers captured the first detailed footage of a sperm whale birth and discovered something remarkable: 11 whales worked together to help deliver and support the newborn, including half who weren't even related to the mother. This rare glimpse into whale society suggests humans aren't the only species where mothers receive help during childbirth.
Scientists captured the first detailed footage of sperm whales working together to help deliver and support a newborn calf. The extraordinary teamwork challenges what we thought only humans and primates could do.
Scientists finally captured video proof of sperm whales headbutting each other, confirming legends told by 19th-century sailors. The surprising footage reveals younger whales, not adults, engage in this powerful behavior.
After centuries of sailors' stories about whales ramming each other, scientists finally caught the behavior on camera using drones. The footage reveals playful young male sperm whales bumping heads, possibly as a way to learn and grow before leaving their family groups.
Researchers studying stranded pygmy sperm whales off Florida's coast discovered three never-before-seen bacteria types, opening a window into the hidden health of one of the ocean's most mysterious creatures. The 20-year study reveals how much we still don't know about life beneath the waves.