Whale

Could the phenomenon of whale and dolphin strandings be due to Alzheimer's-like cognitive deficits in pod leaders that draw groups into shallow waters? A new study found pathological signs of Alzheimer's disease in brain tissue from stranded dolphins.

Scientists at Stanford University have analyzed microplastic concentrations and the foraging habits of whales off the coast of California, and found that blue whales take in an estimated 10 million pieces of plastic each day.

Along with eating fish and seals, killer whales (aka orcas) are also known to hunt some types of whales. For the first time ever, however, there has now been a documented case of them killing the largest animal in the world – an adult blue whale.

How do whales gulp down huge amounts of water and krill without drowning themselves with every mouthful? Researchers have now discovered an “oral plug” in the throats of some species that blocks either their airways or esophagus as needed.

Scientists have discovered fossils of a new species of aquatic reptile that may be the first giant animal that ever lived on Earth. Cymbospondylus youngorum is a new type of ichthyosaur dating back to the early stages of the Age of Dinosaurs.

Omnidirectional video cameras are becoming increasingly popular, although they're still mostly just used recreationally. A scientific research team, however, has now utilized one of the devices to gain a better understanding of whale behaviour.

Just like a tree trunk, the tusk of the narwhal acquires a new growth ring every year. Analyses of those rings have now revealed some interesting facts about the animals' diet, and about changes in their environment.

Oregon State University researchers have found that fin whale songs interact with the ocean floor, being reflected and refracted by the sediments and bedrock, and can be used to measure the thickness of these layers as well as providing other data.

Led by the sounds of mysterious acoustic signals, a group of beaked whale experts believe they have captured evidence of an entirely new species, sending chills up their spines as they ponder the existence of a completely unknown large mammal.

After an almost complete absence for 50 years, blue whales are returning to the waters surrounding South Georgia island in the south Atlantic. A study has collected 58 sightings of the giant cetaceans as well as acoustic soundings of their presence.

A new study has delved into underwater behavior of remora, producing the first-ever continuous recordings of these so-called suckerfish in action and showing how they surf, feed and even socialize on the surface of blue whales.

Sperm whales use echolocation to search for prey in the dark ocean – so it makes sense that competing sounds could screw that process up. A recent study now indicates that even a new-and-improved type of manmade sonar does indeed cause problems.