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Credits:
Narrator/Writer: Stephanie Sammann
Writer: Lorraine Boissoneault
Editor: Dylan Hennessy (https://www.behance.net/dylanhennessy1)
Editor: David O'Sullivan
Illustrator: Elfy Chiang (https://www.elfylandstudios.com/)
Illustrator/Animator: Kirtan Patel (https://kpatart.com/illustrations)
Animator: Mike Ridolfi (https://www.moboxgraphics.com/)
Sound: Graham Haerther (https://haerther.net)
Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster (https://twitter.com/forgottentowel)
Producer: Brian McManus (https://www.youtube.com/c/realengineering)
Special Thanks To:
Dr. Joy Reidenberg
Susan Bird
Tom Mustill - and be sure to check out his new book How to Speak Whale
https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/tom-mustill/how-to-speak-whale/9781538739136/
Imagery courtesy of Getty Images
References:
[1] https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/sperm-whale
[2] http://www.biosciences-labs.bham.ac.uk/butler/Lewis/UDivers.pdf
[3] https://www.orcaireland.org/deep-diving-adaptations-in-the-sperm-whale
[4] https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn3315
[5] https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/physical/ocean-depths/pressure/compare-contrast-connect-deep-divers#:~:text=The%20sperm%20whale%2C%20which%20holds,contain%20into%20a%20small%20space.
[6] http://www.eurocbc.org/Gas-bubble%20lesions%20in%20stranded%20cetaceans.pdf
[7] https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/saltwater-science/do_whales_suffer_from_decompression/
[8] https://wildwhales.org/speciesid/whales/sperm-whale/
[9] https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/133/4/990/6263583?login=false
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774244/
[11] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0244204
[12] https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0030
📝 Transcript
Transcribing... This may take a few minutes.
Top Comments
@realscience
Be sure to check out the Field Notes episode that goes along with this video on Nebula! In this episode we talk to the experts about what its like to study - and dissect - such massive creatures, and what its like to be crushed by one while kayaking. Watch it by signing up to the bundle deal at http://curiositystream.com/realscience
506 likes
@Pure_Malevolence
The idea of a sperm whale, that is potentially sentient, diving down and just sonic blasting the shit out a giant squid is epic.
3539 likes
@CaioRodrigues001
Deepest diver, loudest screams, biggest brains, biggest toothed predator and idk how many other records broken! Truly an amazing creature
1887 likes
@flourescentadolescent1
Imagine jumping from a boat into the ocean and finding yourself in the midst of an entire bunch of vertically placed sleeping sperm whales ?!? The sea terrifies me.
374 likes
@RobinCrusoe1952
I hope when, if, we decipher their language the first thing we should communicate is how profoundly sorry we are for almost bringing about their extermination.
6282 likes
@daniell1483
I don't know why, but the idea of making a Rosetta Stone for the sperm whale's language really hits me in the feels. For so long, humans have been wondering if we are alone in the universe and spent so much time looking into space to try and find neighbors, when in reality we should have been looking into the oceans. Sperm whales and orca both have complex languages, and I wouldn't be one bit surprised if we found out one or both are sapient, and sentient, creatures. I honestly can't wait for this teased video.
4753 likes
@byronic-heroine
Whale: hello
Human diver: OH GOD I'M DYING
28 likes
@ohedd
The bit about whales possibly learning and conveying strategies for evading whalers is extremely interesting. I also wonder if the intelligence of the sperm whale and the intelligence of the squid came as a result of an arms race with each other. If so, sperm whale intelligence appear to have evolved more in the direction of human intelligence; where we evolved abilities to communicate and organize and take advantage of collective intelligence. By contrast the squid, who's a solitary animal, evolved incredible spatial intelligence and abilities to solve complex cognitively demanding tasks.
879 likes
@Deviantial
Can you imagine if one day we actually manage to understand their language and communicate with these magnificent creatures?
3937 likes
@Alexscofi
They fricken outsmarted us when we were trying to hunt them? That's mindblowing...
35 likes
@TragoudistrosMPH
Humans wanting to communicate with aliens always struck me as odd when we can't communicate with other Earth animals...
982 likes
@trulyinfamous
The fact that this channel not only has actual captions but also cites sources is awesome. You're setting a good example.
651 likes
@ccselmo9363
Deep in the darkest depths of the ocean, where no light shines and most animals have never experienced light. *shines a giant flashlight down there*
135 likes
@Enrique9000v
I love this channel, ever since you started, the production value and research is second to none. Keep it up.
1480 likes
@Innomen
That's amazing that they've never yelled any of us to death. Given how completely annoying and monstrous people can be. It's hard for me not to parse that as incredible mercy and tolerance, like they don't even get frustrated with us. I occasionally yell at my cat, and I deeply love the little bastard. You'd think they'd have at least done it by accident once. Truly amazing. And I also must say I'd be scared to dive with one knowing that it can just basically maim me at will from any direction.