The New York Times, May 24, 2024 (with Michael Barbaro)
Ever since the discovery of whale songs almost 60 years ago, scientists have been trying to decipher the lyrics.
But sperm whales don’t produce the eerie melodies sung by humpback whales, sounds that became a sensation in the 1960s. Instead, sperm whales rattle off clicks that sound like a cross between Morse code and a creaking door.
Carl Zimmer, a science reporter, explains why it’s possible that the whales are communicating in a complex language.
Copyright 2024 The New York Times Company. Reprinted with permission.