Oldest known whale recording could unlock mysteries of the ocean

Researchers have discovered the oldest known recording of whale sounds, a humpback whale song captured in March 1949 in Bermuda by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists. The recording, made while testing sonar systems, predates the recognized discovery of whale song by almost two decades. Scientists believe the recording is significant because it provides insight into the ocean soundscape of the late 1940s, which was much quieter than today's oceans. Analyzing the recording can help researchers understand how increased human-made noises, like shipping, impact whale communication. The preserved audio allows scientists to compare past and present ocean environments and study changes in whale behavior.

Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discovered the oldest-known recording of a humpback whale song, captured in March 1949 in Bermuda. The recording, found on a digitized disc from a Gray Audograph, predates the recognized discovery of whale song by almost two decades. Scientists testing sonar systems and performing acoustic experiments for the US Office of Naval Research originally captured the sound, unaware of its significance. The recording provides valuable insight into the ocean soundscape of the late 1940s, which was much quieter than today's oceans. This discovery allows scientists to study how human-made noises, like increased shipping, impact whale communication and behavior, as whales can modify their calls based on environmental noise.