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Oldest Humpback Whale Song Discovered from 1949

3/16/2026

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Story summary
  • Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution uncovered the oldest known recording of a humpback whale song, captured in March 1949 in Bermuda.
  • The sound was preserved on a plastic disc, revealing the quiet late-1940s ocean.
  • Marine bioacoustician Peter Tyack notes the recording shows whale sounds and the historical ocean soundscape, informing how modern noise affects communication.
  • The discovery arose during digitizing old recordings, illustrating preservation across decades.