logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
25m 27s

Whales Have an Alphabet

The New York Times
About this episode
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. 
Up next
Today
Why Even Some Democrats Hate California’s Billionaire Tax Proposal
A landmark proposal for a one-time tax on billionaires in California recently reached a milestone. The labor union backing it said it had collected enough signatures to put the measure on the state’s ballot. Laurel Rosenhall, who covers California politics for The New York Times, ... Show More
27m 24s
Yesterday
Assassination Attempt Suspect Charged
What we know about the man in custody after the shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner, and how the incident unfolded. The man accused of storming the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with multiple weapons was charged on Monday with trying to assassinate ... Show More
24m 55s
Apr 27
Who’s Really Running Iran?
Over the weekend, President Trump called off a trip to Pakistan by two of his negotiators for a potential additional round of talks with Tehran, leaving the fate of the cease-fire in limbo. Farnaz Fassihi, who covers Iran for The New York Times, looks at who is in charge of the c ... Show More
35m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2020
Why Do Whales Sing?
<p>In our most recent episode, we answered questions about  really big animals: whales!</p> <p>We covered a lot when it comes to these huge aquatic mammals but there was one big topic we didn't get to: and that's how whales communicate.  We'll learn more about the sounds whales ... Show More
27m 16s
Jun 2019
Humpback Hit Factory
There's a humpback whale song sensation that's sweeping the South Pacific. We'll learn about the burgeoning study of "whale culture"-and why these super smart cetaceans may have a lot more in common with us than we'd ever imagined. For more information on this episode visit natio ... Show More
20m 5s
Jul 2022
The Humpback and the Killer
<p>Killer whales — orcas — eat all sorts of animals, including humpback calves. But one day, biologists saw a group of humpback whales trying to stop some killer whales from eating… a seal. And then it happened again. And again. It turns out, all across the oceans, humpback whale ... Show More
35m 48s
Oct 2020
The Snot and the Whale
How do whales use their blowholes to breathe, and what keeps them from filling up with water? There’s no better way to find out than getting up close and personal with whales! That’s what marine mammal biologist Justine Hudson did when she collected whale snot from belugas. Snot ... Show More
16m 51s
Aug 2021
Whales' Vital Role In Our Oceans
Whales are more than just beautiful creatures — they play a vital role in the ocean's ecosystem. Today, Asha de Vos, marine biologist and pioneer of long-term blue whale research within the Northern Indian Ocean, explains why protecting whales is crucial for protecting the entire ... Show More
13m 38s
Sep 2023
Why Do Beached Whales Explode Sometimes?
It's best to give deceased beached whales a respectful amount of space because they can explode. Learn how it works in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/beached-whales-explode.htmSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in ... Show More
3m 32s
Jul 2023
Tom Mustill, "How to Speak Whale: A Voyage into the Future of Animal Communication" (Grand Central Publishing, 2022)
What if animals and humans could speak to one another? Tom Mustill—the nature documentarian who went viral when a thirty‑ton humpback whale breached onto his kayak—asks this question in his thrilling investigation into whale science and animal communication. “When a whale is in t ... Show More
53m 45s
May 2024
The Songs of the Whales in the Deep Ocean
Join Premium! Ready for an ad-free meditation experience? Join Premium now and get every episode from ALL of our podcasts completely ad-free now! Just a few clicks makes it easy for you to listen on your favorite podcast player. Become a PREMIUM member today by going to --> https ... Show More
34m 29s