MIT CSAIL, Led by Daniela Rus, Discovers Sperm Whale 'Alphabet'; Study Published in Nature Communications

May 7, 2024, 04:12 PM

Researchers at MIT CSAIL, led by Daniela Rus and in collaboration with Project CETI, have made a significant breakthrough in understanding sperm whale communication by discovering what they believe to be a sperm whale 'alphabet.' The study, published in Nature Communications, involved the analysis of 8,719 whale click sounds known as 'codas' using advanced machine learning technologies. These findings suggest that sperm whales might possess a complex communication system, capable of conveying detailed information through variations in click pacing and rhythm, akin to elements of human language.