A Whale of Discovery

So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds. -- Genesis 1:21

In a study published this month, MIT researchers report that they used artificial intelligence to analyze vast archives of recorded sperm whale clicks, unearthing a rich tapestry of acoustic nuances -- a kind of "sound alphabet" that whales use to communicate.
These clicks, known as codas, exhibit variations in tempo, rhythm, and length, suggesting a sophisticated ability among whales to craft diverse messages through combinations of patterns. While the precise meaning of these clicks is still a mystery, this report is a remarkable step towards deciphering the intricacies of whale vocalizations and their social significance.

Using machine learning, the research team analyzed thousands of coda sequences recorded by the Dominica Sperm Whale Project, revealing previously unnoticed patterns. These codas are produced by forcing air through the spermaceti organ in the sperm whale's head. The study identified rhythms, tempos, rubatos, and ornamentations within these sequences, suggesting a sophisticated repertoire of language.
While researchers recognize the parallels between a "phonetic alphabet" for sperm whales and the production of distinct phonetic sounds in human speech, they are careful to not tie whale language too closely to human language; a "sound alphabet" helps us begin to understand how whales communicate, but their language likely includes variables that differ greatly from how we talk to one another. According to Dr. Brenda McCowan from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, this publication opens the door for studying various animal vocalizations beyond sperm whales.

"Many of us have been waiting for advanced technology to allow us to do something like this for decades,” McCowan said.
McCowan was part of another team in 2021 that conducted an "interactive conversation" with a humpback whale in waters near Alaska. For about 20 minutes, a curious whale repeatedly responded to a recording of a humpback song transmitted from her boat.

The MIT study was published last week in the journal Nature Communications and is a reminder of one of the many ways we use science to continue to uncover the intricacies of God's creation. As you hear the animals in your neighborhoods this week, let their music be a reminder that God has created delightful intricacies we have yet to discover.