Moby Dick

Sperm whales, the largest toothed predators, are in the news due to recent drone footage capturing them intentionally ramming each other with their heads. This behavior, filmed off the coasts of the Azores and Balearic Islands, confirms long-held suspicions and historical accounts from 19th-century whalers, including the incident that inspired Herman Melville's novel, *Moby Dick*. For over a century, these accounts were often dismissed as exaggerations. The new footage demonstrates that this aggressive behavior is real and deliberate. The recordings are significant because they provide the first direct evidence of this behavior in sperm whales, shedding light on their social dynamics and potentially the reasons behind such forceful interactions. The findings highlight the importance of using modern technology to validate historical observations and deepen our understanding of marine life.