Specieswatch: Scientists trace haunting sea thrums to humpback whales

What happened

According to The Guardian’s report, Specieswatch: Scientists trace haunting sea thrums to humpback whales, Understanding whale sounds could help prevent strikes from ships and even aid in search for extraterrestrial life If you stand on certain shorelines and listen carefully you might just hear deep rumbling noises. Sharp-eared fishers, lighthouse keepers and sea kayakers have been haunted by these late-night sounds for centuries and now, for the first time, scientists have recorded these thrums and pinpointed them to humpback whales, proving that whales have a far larger vocabulary than previously thought. Fred Sharpe from the Alaska Whale Foundation and his colleagues set up land-based microphones to tune in to the mysterious ocean noises. Tip-offs from Alaskan coastal communities helped to narrow down the best recording locations. Along with the previously documented trumpets, blows and shrieks that humpback whales make, the researchers recorded very low frequency rumbles, a bit like dist

Context

The development sits in VINI’s Science file for readers following research, health, climate, space, medicine, and scientific institutions. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The report is dated 2026-06-03T05:00:42+00:00.

What to watch

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Source

Primary source: Specieswatch: Scientists trace haunting sea thrums to humpback whales via The Guardian. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.