The Decibel Whales, extinction and the sounds of underwater noise pollution
Nov 3, 2025
Jenn Thornhill-Verma, an environmental journalist known for her work on North Atlantic right whales, joins Mark Baumgartner, a senior scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. They delve into the pressing issue of these whales nearing extinction, with fewer than 400 left. Topics include the impact of underwater noise pollution on whale communication and behavior, the dangers of ship strikes and entanglements, and innovative methods researchers use to track these majestic creatures. Listeners gain insight into the plight of right whales and the urgency of their conservation.
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First Sighting Of Nosset And Calf
- Jenn Thornhill-Verma recounts her first sighting of a mother-calf North Atlantic right whale, Nosset, during a Cape Cod survey.
- She emphasizes the emotional weight because calves are rare victories for a population losing individuals faster than they reproduce.
Noise Pollution Matches Whale Frequencies
- Human-made noise overlaps the whales' communication frequencies and adds stress to an already declining population.
- Jenn argues that acoustic pollution threatens fisheries and coastal ecosystems beyond just whales.
Individual IDs Reveal Population Decline
- Researchers maintain a detailed life-history catalog, identifying 833 documented right whales and ~384 currently alive.
- Unique callosities and scarring allow individual IDs, revealing low calf survivability and intense threats.