Let's Talk Dolphin! - The Guardian

photo credit Stephen Frink, Getty Images & Science Faction

"It started out as the dream of a maverick 60s scientist, but new experiments mean we may soon be able to converse with dolphins."

Don't get your hopes up, kids - but I think it's now widely accepted that dolphins do communicate in one form or another.

This short article from The Guardian introduces a study that is to be commenced later this year attempting to introduce dolphins to human words in their own language of clicks and whistles.

"Later this year, divers will slip into the waters off the coast of Florida wearing a newfangled device that can listen and respond to wild dolphins by producing its own noises for words such as "seaweed". If the dolphins pick up the new language, the next step just might approach a rudimentary conversation."

Interesting!

Full article here (The Guardian)

A Birthday Wish

Hey everyone,

My birthday is on Monday and I'm trying to raise $100 for the Fund for Gulf Coast Restoration. If you love marine biology, the beach, or the environment (or me!) and you're feeling generous, please consider making a small donation to this cause!

Click here! Thank you!! :)


photo credit Cathy Hennessy

***UPDATE***
Thank you to all my friends who helped me reach my goal of $100 for the Fund for Gulf Coast Restoration!! Couldn't have done it without you!

Whales Throng New York City Area, Surprising Scientists (National Geographic)

photo credit Flip Nicklin & National Geographic

The Big Apple attracts some big attention - and some even bigger whales, apparently!

"It turns out a lot of big whales have a taste for the Big Apple area, including the 100-foot (30-meter) blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, scientists say."

Honestly, this is the worst spring ever for me to be away from home...Hundreds of right whales in Massachusetts, blue whales in New York...what the hell guys. What the hell.

Wait for meeeeee... :(

Anyway, a series of underwater sound recorders was placed along the southern coast of Long Island and into New York Harbor in 2008 and 2009 to study the types and amount of human-made noise underwater and how it affects whales. The songs of at least six different species of whales were heard around the Empire State!

Aaron Rice, science director of the bioacoustics lab, was surprised at the "juxtaposition of having such large charismatic animals that represent ocean biodiversity living right off of the largest city on the Atlantic coast."

I agree!

Full article here (National Geographic)

A Personal Update

Hey all - just a quick update about yours truly. :)



This blog has been neglected a bit recently...so let me tell you why! PS- It's relevant.

SO, first of all, I've been distracted by a bit of a project which you will (hopefully) see soon! More on that when it's actually posted.

Second, I've been distracted by a bit of a project. Wait - did I say that? Oh yeah, there's TWO! This one you can know about right now though, and you can even be a part of it if you'll be in lovely lovely London next month!

Yep, it's time to start planning for the annual Hands Across the Sand event! And this year, the London even is being organised by...ME!! So it's gonna be super-fun, right? Right.

So hey, if you'll be in London on the 25^th of June, come join hands with us in the beautiful St James's Park (my personal favourite) across the Blue Bridge to say NO to offshore oil drilling and fossil fuels and YES to clean energy! Check out the event on Facebook here! All welcome! Seriously, like everybody. More information to follow on this blog, in the group and on Twitter.

It would be great to see as many of you as possible. :) I promise it will be fun and not weird. I'm actually pretty cool in person. *coughcough*drinksafter?*cough*
Our event is listed on the Hands Across the Sand international map, so check it out and let me know what you think or if you have any ideas.

Thirdly, I'm very pleased to say I've been taken aboard at Global Ocean - a London based marine conservation charity that does great work to raise awareness about the effects of modern life on the seas and funds crucially important marine conservation and research projects. You can check them out (and please do) here. The website is currently being re-launched into an amazing new layout, so keep these guys bookmarked. I'm sure I'll be posting more bits from them in the future.

So there you have it! I'm truly sorry about the neglect, but take heart in knowing I've still been spending my spare time on marine biology, conservation and environmental issues. You'll see more of me around now. Thanks for sticking by me in my chaos - I love you all!

Cheers,
The Unemployed Marine Biologist xoxo