July's roundup of overlooked science stories includes cyborg cockroaches in diving suits, evidence of skilled archer princesses in ancient Egypt, confirmation of a companion star to Betelgeuse, and the resolution of a centuries-old mystery surrounding a Medici duke's death.
Scientists from the Universities of St Andrews and Neuchâtel discovered that sperm whales sleep vertically, releasing gas bubbles to regulate buoyancy. This unique posture near the surface aids breathing, protects from waves, and prevents energy drain, offering new insights into their deep-diving physiology.
Project Ceti researchers found sperm whales off Dominica produce distinct, faster clicking patterns ("codas") and alter "vowel-like" sounds when boats are nearby. This discovery could allow scientists to predict ship presence and raises questions about the impact of noise pollution on whale communication.
Twitch streamer Maya Higa has withdrawn from Kai Cenat's Streamer University 2026 due to a prior commitment to a sperm whale conservation project. Kai Cenat supported her decision, calling her a "superhero" for her wildlife work, as organizers consider a replacement.
AI analysis reveals sperm whales use a complex system of clicks, akin to a phonetic alphabet with "rubato" and "ornamentation." Separately, Mediterranean sperm whales exhibit a distinct regional dialect, differing from western populations, highlighting cultural evolution in non-human communication.
Scientists have identified a complex communication system in sperm whales, akin to a phonetic alphabet, using AI to analyze clicks. They also found distinct regional dialects, particularly in the Mediterranean, suggesting sophisticated non-human communication and cultural history.
Researchers have identified two distinct dialects in sperm whale vocalizations across the Mediterranean, with whales in the western basin favoring a 3+1 coda and those in the east using a faster version. This finding offers insights into how dialects form and evolve, suggesting a westward origin and eastward spread.
Two adult sperm whales were sighted off Hualien's Qixingtan Beach by two whale-watching boats. The whales stayed near the boats for about 4-5 minutes, displaying their characteristic 45-degree left-forward blow, a key identification feature.
