Researchers from an organization that seeks out extraterrestrial life camped out at a remote lighthouse in Southeast Alaska over the summer to investigate humpback whale communication.
From left to right, Josef Quitslund and Whale-SETI affiliates Fred Sharpe, Jack Mezzone, Rachel Meade and Joe Olson throw up the Vulcan Salute at Five Finger Lighthouse on July 24, 2024.
On a July voyage to Five Finger Lighthouse, skipper Josef Quitslund noticed something moving in the distance. He slowed down and cut the engine, then tossed a contraption that looks something like a baby monitor into the water. Quitslund’s wife, biologist Stephanie Hayes, pointed out a calf hanging back — rolling back and forth in a patch of kelp.The whales finished their breakfast and the whale researchers continued on to the lighthouse, where premier whale behavioral scientist Fred Sharpe was helping coordinatea 15-year project spearheaded by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute.
“We had an event where we described a 20 minute interaction with a whale right up by the lighthouse, where we exchanged 36 signals back and forth: one of these ‘throp’ calls. Throp call is one of their basic social sounds that the humpback whales give,” Sharpe said. “The social sounds are kind of like … sort of social chatter — a diverse set of social chatter, but shows some stability over time and space.
“We’re just hearing bivalves over here. Stuff that’s stuck to the walls … barnacles, mussels, whatever,” Olson said, before giving his best bivalve imitation.
Southeast Wildlife Five Finger Lighthouse Frank Sharpe Frederick Sound Joe Olson Josef Quitslund Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute Whale-SETI
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit Record Highs as Scientists Sound The AlarmThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
Scientists find a new way of entangling light and soundFor a wide variety of emerging quantum technologies, such as secure quantum communications and quantum computing, quantum entanglement is a prerequisite. Scientists have now demonstrated a particularly efficient way in which photons can be entangled with acoustic phonons.
Read more »
Snow way: Frederick delivers all-encompassing performance in snowy 1st-round winFrederick beat Northfield 32-14 on Friday in 4A’s first round.
Read more »
Author Sidney Morrison captivates Cleveland audience with a bold, fictional take on Frederick Douglass’s lifeAuthor Sidney Morrison captivated a diverse audience at a recent speaking engagement at the Cleveland Public Library, shedding light on Douglass’s life through historical fiction, writes columnist Justice B. Hill.
Read more »
Bishop McDevitt at Mechanicsburg: District 3 5A football semifinal previewFans will flood John H. Frederick Field for this massive 5A semifinal
Read more »
Fugitive arrested in deadly Jacksonville stabbing from over 2 years ago: JSOMs’Tayari Chaka Cohen, 21, has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Laniya Frederick.
Read more »