Whales and dolphins produce clicks, whistles, pulses and songs. Some signals travel long distances underwater, and groups can have distinctive call patterns. Scientists should be cautious about translating them as complete human sentences.
What we found
Water carries sound efficiently, so acoustic communication is essential when visibility is low. Humpback songs have repeated structures, sperm whales use patterned clicks, and orcas maintain group-specific call repertoires. Machine learning is helping researchers analyse recordings, but meaning must be tested through behaviour rather than guessed from patterns alone. The Ridbusters then compare the wording with the original sources, look for the conditions of each observation and check whether another explanation could fit. That turns a surprising headline into a trail a young investigator can follow: claim, test, result and remaining uncertainty. Whales and dolphins produce clicks, whistles, pulses and songs.