Dolphin Whistles Help Solve The Mysteries Of The Cosmos

Dolphin Whistles Help Solve The Mysteries Of The Cosmos

With a lot of help from Flipper, scientists have a better shot at understanding phenomena like black holes and supernovae.

Let's back up. To understand the connection between dolphins and supernovae, you have to start in the year 2000, when German company EvoLogics was founded. EvoLogics is one of the only firms on the planet whose entire output consists of biomimetic innovation. Its products and proofs-of-concept include robotic manta rays and penguins, ultra-efficient propellers and Terminator-like human torsos.

What Can Dolphins Tell Us About The Evolution of Friendship?

What Can Dolphins Tell Us About The Evolution of Friendship?

Scientists thought they had a pretty good handle on the social interactions of bottlenose dophins (Tursiops). They’ve used the term fission-fusion dynamics to describe dolphin (and non-human primate) society and so far it has served researchers well. Fission-fusionsocieties among dolphins are characterized by two levels of social hierarchy: groups of two or three related males (“first-order alliances”) which work together to guard one or more females from other males, and larger teams comprised of several first-order alliances (“second-order alliances”) which cooperate to “steal” females from other groups. Since the individuals in first- and second-order alliances are related and therefore share genes, this sort of cooperation can be explained by kin selection.

A Researcher Asks: Are Dolphins Self-Aware? (audio)

Link: A Researcher Asks: Are Dolphins Self-Aware? (audio)

Like chimpanzees, dolphins are large-brained and highly social animals, but can they recognize themselves in a mirror? Psychologist and dolphin researcher Diana Reiss discusses her work with dolphin communication and cognition.