The Whale's Long Song

ound moves faster and farther through water than it does through air, especially the low, rumbling frequencies that make up much of a humpback whale's song. That deep song can be heard by other whales many miles away, carrying messages across huge stretches of open ocean long before any whale comes into view. Scientists still aren't entirely sure of every reason whales sing, but it likely plays a role in attracting mates and letting distant whales know who else is out there.