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
After Losing Her Limbs, Our Cooking Columnist Returns to the Kitchen
For decades, the kitchen was the centerpiece of Yewande Komolafe’s life. She spent long hours there, first as a restaurant cook and later as a recipe developer. But though she loved the often-intense culinary world, she had to navigate it with certain limitations: She was born wi ... Show More
31m 29s
Jul 31
The Fight Tearing Apart Silicon Valley
For years, a debate has been simmering in Silicon Valley over the right way to build artificial intelligence. Should it be open and free for anyone to use, or should we tightly control how it’s made and who can access it? Mike Isaac, who covers technology for The New York Times, ... Show More
26m 51s
Jul 30
Europe Is Burning
This summer, wildfires have been raging across Europe. France and Spain have been hit particularly badly, with hundreds of thousands of acres incinerated and entire communities devastated. Chico Harlan, the global climate correspondent for The New York Times, and Mark Landler, th ... Show More
29m 49s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Are whales communicating with their clicks and songs?
Baleen whales sing. Toothed whales click. But how and why do they make these musical sounds?Join Molly and co-host Tyler as they dive into the wonderful world of whale sounds. First, they run into Anna Goldfield on her way to audition for a whale choir. She teaches them about the ... Show More
36m 20s
Mar 2024
The Science behind Humpback Whales’ Eerie Songs
Scientists have long wondered how baleen whales make their songs, and a new study has finally uncovered the anatomical workings behind their melodies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
8m 27s
Sep 2021
Inside the Nail-Biting Quest to Find the 'Loneliest Whale'
It is a tale of sound: the song of a solitary whale that vocalizes at a unique frequency of 52 hertz, which no other whale—as the story goes—can seemingly understand. It is also a tale about science and ocean life, laced with fantasy and mystery and mostly shrouded in darkness. T ... Show More
19m 51s
Apr 2024
Do Sperm Whales Have Culture?
These marine mammals are very hard to observe, but in the past two decades the roughly 20 or so people in the world who study sperm whales have found some compelling evidence of culture among them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
10m 22s
Jun 2020
Unicorns of the Sea Reveal Sound Activities
Narwhals, recognizable by their large single tusk, make distinct sounds that are now being analyzed in depth by researchers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
4m 31s
Jun 2020
Unicorns of the Sea Reveal Sound Activities
Narwhals, recognizable by their large single tusk, make distinct sounds that are now being analyzed in depth by researchers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
4m 31s
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 2020
The Canary of the Sea
Chirp. Whistle. Creak. Beluga whales, the canaries of the sea, have a lot to say. But noise from ships can drown out their calls, putting calves in danger. What happens when humans press pause during the coronavirus pandemic—and finally give ocean life some peace and quiet? For m ... Show More
18m 30s
Mar 2022
New Research Decodes the Sea Cow's Hidden Language
Florida manatees are “talking” up a storm, and a team that has been recording those sounds for seven years is starting to understand the chatter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
6m 29s