Whales are one of nature's most magnificent aquatic animal groups. You can read about the haunting songs of humpback whales, squid-hunting sperm whales and the largest animals on Earth, blue whales. Live Science publishes the wildest whale facts and stories, whether it's baleen whales in a record-breaking feeding frenzy, the tragedy of a blue whale's daily intake of microplastics, or a sighting of a real-life Moby Dick, so our expert writers and editors will always have compelling news, articles and features about whales for you to explore.
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—Humpback whales: Facts about the singers of the sea
Latest about Whales
These endangered whales can live up to 150 years — twice as long as previously thought
Life expectancy prediction using data collected over four decades reveals southern right whales' exceptionally long lives — far longer than scientists previously thought.
Male humpback whale crossed 3 oceans for sex, inadvertently breaking distance record for species
A male humpback whale swam 8,106 miles (13,046 km) from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, mingling with other whale populations and potentially having sex with them along the way.
Mysterious sound coming from the Mariana Trench has finally been explained
A new study has revealed the exact origin of the Pacific Ocean's mysterious "biotwang" noises, which were first detected by underwater surveys near the Mariana Trench in 2014.
Watch heartbreaking footage of humpback whale with missing tail in Washington state
Drone captures footage of a humpback whale missing its tail fluke — an injury suspected to be from long-term entanglement in fishing gear.
Ultra-rare whale never seen alive washes up on on New Zealand beach — and scientists could now dissect it for the 1st time
A beaked whale that recently washed up dead on a New Zealand beach likely belongs to the world's rarest cetacean species. If confirmed, researchers could dissect the species for the very first time.
Japan plans to commercially hunt vulnerable fin whales, enraging conservationists
Japan has announced plans to add fin whales — the second-largest animal on Earth — to its list of commercial whaling species, which currently includes Bryde's, sei and minke whales.
Sperm whales drop giant poop bombs to save themselves from orca attack
A pod of sperm whales flung their poop at unsuspecting orcas to avoid a fatal attack.
Beluga whales appear to change the shape of their melon heads to communicate, scientists discover
Beluga whales appear to change the shape of their heads during encounters with one another in what scientists believe is a form of visual communication among this highly social species.
Why some whales go through menopause
Toothed whales appear to have lengthened their lifespan without lengthening their reproductive life so they can help care for their grandchildren, a new study suggests.
7,000 humpback whales died in the North Pacific over 10 years — and 'the blob' is to blame
New research using artificial intelligence reveals that a decline in the North Pacific population of humpback whales between 2012 and 2021 coincided with the strongest marine heat wave recorded globally.
