A stellar suspect in the mysterious beachings. A whale of a tale Flickr user Amila Tennakoon The same phenomenon that creates the Northern Lights might also be confusing male sperm whales. In case you’ve forgotten already (really, how could you?), early 2016 brought a veritable tidal wave of beached spermaceti in […]

This sperm whale was one of a number stranded on this beach in the Netherlands GETTY IMAGES Large solar storms, responsible for the northern lights, may have played a role in the strandings of 29 sperm whales in the North Sea early in 2016. A new study says these geomagnetic […]

My, what sharp teeth you have, Janjucetus. New research finds ancient whales like “The Juce” here had dentition more similar to land carnivores than today’s filter-feeders. (Credit: Nobu Tamura/Wikimedia Commons) The biggest animals on the planet right now are baleen whales, which upped their size thanks to efficient filter-feeding. How they got that specialized […]

This North Atlantic right whale, found dead in June, had injuries suggesting it was hit by a ship. The highly endangered North Atlantic right whale is having its worst year in decades. At least 13 of the whales—out of a population believed to be about 450—have died this year, most […]

Researchers examine one of the North Atlantic right whales that have died in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / HO- Marine Animal Response Society) HALIFAX — Another endangered North Atlantic right whale has been found floating lifeless in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. A Facebook post by […]

In this photo taken July 9, 2014, humpback whales feed at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Cape Cod near Provincetown, Mass (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) BOSTON — For centuries, sailors have shouted their own language aboard – “Hoist sail!” ”Prepare to come about!” ”Anchors aweigh!” Now they’re teaming […]

Animal rescuers hope to capture and relocate an endangered beluga whale that has been making its home in a northern New Brunswick river for several weeks look at the whale from shore in this undated handout image (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Marine Animal Response Society) CACOUNA, Que. — Scientists are looking for […]

Researchers examine one of the North Atlantic right whales that have died in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / HO- Marine Animal Response Society) HALIFAX – Another North Atlantic right whale has been found floating lifeless in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, making it the seventh death […]

Whales die due to human interactions Experts say humans are likely to blame in the deaths of three of the six North Atlantic right whales recently found floating lifeless in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. But they remain hopeful the attention drawn by the grisly discoveries, and an uptick in […]

In this Feb. 2009 photo provided by the New England Aquarium, a North Atlantic right whale swims with her calf in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the United States near the border between Florida and Georgia. (Photo courtesy of the New England Aquarium) NORWAY, P.E.I. – Marine mammal […]