Whales
How a Trove of Whaling Logbooks Will Help Scientists Understand Our Changing Climate
Researchers are examining more than 4,200 New England documents to turn descriptions of the wind into data
Medieval Icelanders Likely Hunted Blue Whales
New research suggests Viking-age hunters took down the biggest animal on Earth
Belugas May Communicate by Changing the Shape of Their Squishy Foreheads
Scientists documented five different melon shapes among the marine mammals living in captivity: push, flat, lift, shake and press
Scientists Discover a 'Phonetic Alphabet' Used by Sperm Whales, Moving One Step Closer to Decoding Their Chatter
Researchers used artificial intelligence to spot patterns in recordings of the marine mammals' vocalizations, uncovering the "building blocks of whale language"
Rescuers Save 130 Beached Pilot Whales in Western Australia After Mass Stranding
An additional 29 whales died, officials reported last week, while the reason behind the stranding remains unknown
Journey Under the Sea With 15 Amazing Photos of Marine Life
These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images feature the captivating creatures that live beneath the waves
Two New Species of Killer Whale Should Be Recognized, Study Says
A couple of eastern North Pacific populations of orcas have qualities that set them apart, according to researchers
Five Shocking Animal Hybrids That Truly Exist in Nature, From Narlugas to Grolar Bears to Coywolves
The now-famous “virgin” stingray Charlotte is not having hybrid babies, scientists say. But in nature, distinct species sometimes interbreed to produce surprising offspring
Why Did Seals and Sea Lions Never Commit to a Life Fully at Sea?
While whales moved from living on land to an existence immersed in water, pinnipeds embraced an amphibious lifestyle
Whales That Go Through Menopause Live Longer and May Help Care for Grandchildren
Alongside humans, five species of toothed whales are known to experience menopause. A new study suggests they evolved the trait to increase their lifespan
A Rare Gray Whale, Believed Extinct in the Atlantic for 200 Years, Has Been Spotted off New England
Scientists say a lack of Arctic sea ice due to climate change could have created a passageway for the mammal to travel from the Pacific Ocean
These Photos Are the First to Show Humpback Whales Mating—and Both Are Males
Photographers spotted the interaction in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Maui in 2022
Single Orca Spotted Killing a Great White Shark for the First Time Ever
In less than two minutes, the marine mammal attacked a juvenile white shark and ripped out its liver in an encounter off the coast of South Africa last year
7,000 Humpback Whales May Have Starved to Death During the 'Blob' Heatwave
The unprecedented marine heat between 2013 and 2016 in the North Pacific likely drove the whales' 20 percent decline, a trend revealed by citizen science observations
Scientists Discover How Some Whales Can Sing While Holding Their Breath Underwater
Baleen whales have evolved unique voice boxes essential for song, a new study finds—but these low-frequency vocalizations must compete with the noise of humans' ships
Celebrate Winter in the Wild With 15 Photos of Animals Enjoying the Snow
These chilly but cute creatures will remind you what’s so wonderful about winter
Humpbacks Have Rebounded in This Spot Decimated by Whaling
South Georgia Island’s Cumberland Bay has seen a resurgence of the marine mammals
How an Eye-Popping Museum Specimen Boosted the Beleaguered Blue Whale
For decades, visitors to the Smithsonian could behold the immense size of the sea mammal with their own eyes
See 25 Breathtaking Images From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest
Representing some of the world's best nature photography, the pictures are being put to a popular vote for the People's Choice Award
The Top Ten Ocean Stories of 2023
Major discoveries, an undersea tragedy and international cooperation were some of the biggest saltwater moments of the year
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