BrainStuff How Can Dolphins Detect Sea Mines?
Nov 26, 2025
Discover how the U.S. Navy has utilized bottlenose dolphins since the 1960s for undersea mine detection. Learn about the fascinating training methods that incentivize dolphins to mark mines. Delve into their remarkable echolocation abilities, allowing them to 'see' with sound where mechanical sonar struggles. Explore the ethical considerations surrounding their military use and the ongoing research benefiting both dolphins and human technology. Plus, hear about sea lions' roles in the program and the importance of animal welfare.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Dolphins Trained To Find Mines
- The Navy started training bottlenose dolphins in the 1960s to locate undersea mines and suspicious objects.
- Dolphins signal a find to trainers and leave a buoy or acoustic transponder so humans can mark or disarm the mine.
Natural Sonar Beats Current Tech
- Dolphins outperform man-made devices because they can distinguish man-made from natural objects and adapt in complex environments.
- Their natural sonar is evolutionarily refined beyond current human engineering.
How Dolphin Echolocation Works
- Dolphins use echolocation by producing clicks and focusing them through a fatty organ called the melon.
- They receive echoes through the lower jaw and translate them into detailed spatial information in the brain.