The Loneliest Whale

Out in the deep swims an elusive whale who has never been seen, but has been heard for years. The whale sings a song outside the normal whale-song frequency. Does that mean none of its fellow whales can understand it? In this episode of #Untold, a new #KZbinLearning series from ACS, PBS, and KZbin, we bring you the story of the Loneliest Whale, as well as some of the fascinating science surrounding these gigantic mammals.
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Credits:
Executive Producers:
George Zaidan
Hilary Hudson
Producer/Editor:
Darren Weaver
Writer/Host:
Alex Dainis, PhD
Assistant Editor:
Brett Kuxhausen
Animator:
Shea Lord
Coordinating Producer:
Samantha Jones, PhD
Fact Checker:
Bob Hunt
Archive Producer:
Annalea Embree
Scientific Consultants:
Leila Duman, PhD
John Hildebrand, PhD
Dave Mellinger, PhD
Brianne Raccor, PhD
Peter Tyack, PhD
Sources:
docs.google.com/document/d/1C...
Produced by the American Chemical Society. Join the American Chemical Society! bit.ly/Join_acsmembership

[@ACSReactions]

We’re curious--are there other interesting stories of lone animals out there? Let us know in the comments!

[@DatRandomDJ]

Do stories about me count? Kappa

[@AryaStarky]

Laboon

[@dorjeboleskine4115]

Sammy the seal, all on his own: www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2020/jul/14/sammy-the-seal-and-bastille-day-tuesdays-best-photos#img-14

[@alveolate]

here's a list: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endling i think Lonesome George may be somewhat well-known?

[@eulusgarza5765]

so, the next time I ask, are you a 52 hertz species ?... will sound like too nerdy or freaky ?

[@kimberlyash2461]

Thought this was going to be about the 52 whale, but my goodness she talked about every other whale!

[@blkdrgncap]

"Congratulations! That means you're most likely under 25." Me, sitting here at 25.

[@jjaejae]

I’m 19 tho😂😂

[@legarconquiment1069]

22

[@TibblesWibbles]

When your 30 and can still hear that shit.

[@Br3ezyTV]

I didn’t hear it

[@Xenomorph-hb4zf]

@@TibblesWibbles That's a good thing then.

[@definitelynotsana]

"the truth untold" about the "whalien 52"

[@sameensofi4425]

Army💜i came after kore and rj hahaha

[@army_sa1262]

💜💜💜

[@jjmd25]

If the whale has never been seen, how do they even know it’s a whale? And why do they assume that he’s alone? Maybe there are several emitting that sound frequency.

[@Emily_Entropy]

This video was such an unexpected trip. I wasn't sure I was going to care about a lonely whale or whatever, but I gave this video a shot because of how consistently impressive the production has been on Reactions lately. I'm so glad I did! I'm a sound designer and synthesist, and was amazed to learn about the SOFAR region. It sounds like Frequency Modulation (FM). I've never seen that longitudinal wave visualization before either. It seems like it would be highly useful if you can get used to thinking like that. I can read a lot of information from an oscilloscope's transverse wave, but this longitudinal seems vastly more informative!

[@AlexDainisPhD]

This comment made me so happy! I'm so glad you liked it! And yes, the Reactions team is *super* impressive. So happy I have this chance to work with them!

[@user-ot7jd9dt7t]

What! Whales are fascinating though...

[@coinwater8511]

Should I be worried that I’m 19 and can’t hear the Mosquito Tone for people under 25?😬

[@theflyingsandwich2586]

I’m 15 and can’t hear it

[@ansarialtamash9611]

Yeah we probably need to change our headphones...damn they are old arent they?!!

[@coinwater8511]

@@ansarialtamash9611 yeah to be fair I have really bad listening habits

[@riaamin3030]

@@coinwater8511 I'm almost 14 and I can't hear it.

[@52BLUE]

Stop using beats

[@TheCleric42]

This is one of the greatest collections of interesting facts I’ve seen in KZbin ever. The only thing y’all missed is that ambergris is used to make the oil that kings of England are anointed with. Queen Victoria hated the smell, and washed it off asap.

[@jillhwang8495]

Constructive criticism: please don’t name a video the loneliest whale and then make almost half of it about whale exploitation and whale poop. Take it with a grain of salt but it was disturbing to see someone lightly talking about the horrible history/ongoing slaughter of whales for the “subsistence lifestyle” of some communities, but when talking about the natural process of how whales eat thEN its “gross”.

[@turboturkey503]

So don’t watch

[@4leftclovers]

That is true . I agree with you on this

[@pebui]

Got a lot more than I bargained for from this episode! Great information that I'm sure many like myself never realized about all things surrounding whales.

[@asuma9442]

Listen to Whalien 52 by BTS which uses this whale as a metaphor. BTS used this as a significant metaphor for their song. The song is about how you can be surrounded by crowds of people of different kinds and when you scream at the top of your lungs no one hears you. Hence the metaphor for the 52-hertz whale, the whale is surrounded by different types of life in the cast waters of earth by its cry us never heard because no one can hear it.

[@Raadish]

Asuma I clicked on this video thinking about the BTS song 😭😭

[@hexxi2450]

Raadish15 me, too

[@jhencydneylopez6460]

Yeah I came here because of bts

[@gmalamat1393]

nope

[@mlr.9257]

@@gmalamat1393 okay edgelord

[@dwaynezilla]

I just want to add that these explanations and corresponding graphics are so good. I'm at the point talking about triglycerides and I wish I had this delivery decades ago. It's simple but nuanced in the right ways to illustrate the high-level connectedness in the perfect way.

[@ywjsiabvue]

Video: 1:52 "Did you hear anything?" Me: "No." Video: "Congratulations! You're probably under the age of 25." Me: "..........we'll see about that" *Goes back and turned the volume higher* Me: "...I HAVE MADE MYSELF YOUNGER"

[@army_sa1262]

After seeing a video of Tae crying while performing "Whalien 52"... I had to know why... And it lead me to "The loneliest whale in the world"... 💜🐳

[@blackswan4539]

Me Too...

[@guillermomendoza1096]

Wow I was very surprised about all the info you managed to pack on this video alone. I really enjoyed it. Now I have to see all the other videos of the series. Also, do keep us posted on what your gonna do for your postdoc

[@guidogaggl4020]

11:02 yes i think i've heard about those thinks once. I think someone made a great video about that a while ago ;) Great video @Alex Dainis . As always a pleasure to hear you talk about the science behind all kinds of topics Greatings from austria

[@user-iu1xg6jv6e]

5:28, I don't think so. Because I don't have friends.

[@mariawilde5300]

Great job, Alex!!! Very packed in quality information video, and you explain perfect every aspect of it, teaching or giving us the opportunity to remember many things (biologist here)! Thank you a lot 🎁💯🙏

[@nowammies9986]

Love your voice! Ive always liked hearing takes on this story :)

[@SvenLeuschner1]

Uh cool, didn't expect Alex here ... Is there more of her coming up here?

[@ACSReactions]

We have 9 more episodes of UNTOLD coming out in the next few weeks, so you'll see a lot more of Alex here in the near future.

[@AlexDainisPhD]

Yes! So excited that I had a chance to work with this team, they're all awesome. Happy I get to hang out on their channel for the next few weeks :)

[@husnainhaider3781]

@@AlexDainisPhD This is a really great video! Keep up the good work

[@dwaynezilla]

I didn't set out to watch a bunch of these from your channel tonight but here I am and it's sooo goooood awwww yisssss

[@seanstevens6402]

Man... i want to hear the storys about this whale. This is going so off topic

[@MediaIowa]

You put together great videos. Thank you.

[@Corelich]

Great to see you back

[@maruto74]

The whale reminds me a lot of Laboon from One Piece. I thought he was based off free willy but I think its more closer to this. Great video!

[@CaedmonOS]

Omg yes me to

[@sergeantbilko7070]

Thank you for all the information. Very interesting stuff.

[@fixstarnumber1966]

Very informative. Thanks for putting this on.👍👍💥💥

[@ernicaferdinand5976]

35 and I heard it. I also hear induction burners when I turn them on. The sound makes me uncomfortable.

[@harigovindsroriginal]

Came here because of the loneliest whale, but learnt a whole lot more😳😳 Great video👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾😳😳😳

[@unosomni5274]

It would be nice if this mosquito tone had a warning before it. Idk why, but it sounded really loud for me, probably because I was in headphones

[@melissahollowell7255]

I thought the loudest animal on earth is my dog barking at absolutely nothing

[@navytackedbay]

Creepy, but fascinating. I feel bad for 52.

[@NoName-kp8bh]

I was listening with headphones on and I wasn't ready for the first demo🙃

[@youarebeautiful1501]

I heard nothing,i am 13 👁👄👁

[@khairinamirza7831]

Same here😭🤧

[@brianaxel1401]

I’m 24 and couldn’t listen it. Well, shit.

[@user-jh8yo6ln2b]

clicked on this video expecting a video about me. Glad to see it was actually my mother

[@indridcold8433]

The reflaction works like tropospheric ducting.

[@fikayoomole8808]

0:51 SOSUS more like SO-SUS kids in among us

[@debbiehoutman111]

This is so cool.

[@ircimager]

the japanese might know where the other whales like it are

[@gliterzz]

Lol wth

[@sasakurtovic6850]

Question is: what if we recorded other whales song, frequency shifted it to 52Hz and played it at the depth between 600 and 1200meters. Would it reply/respond..?

[@euclideanplane]

1:54 literally the first video I've ever seen from you, I skipped ahead a bit to this part and this hurt my ears so much I had to rip out my ear buds... what the heck was that for?

[@euclideanplane]

2:10 yeah, such a commonly known thing honestly, unless you've been living under a rock, but now I'm sure I'll never be able to hear it again thanks. lol.

[@euclideanplane]

god that really hurt.

[@euclideanplane]

8:00 pretty amazing stuff.

[@celeks1703]

Is he still alive?

[@clover.7636]

Yes

[@khairinamirza7831]

@@clover.7636 really?😳

[@intanshafieqa1931]

No ig. No one know actually. The last in the original series of recordings was made in 2004

[@hooshawn]

Is it just me or is the colour grading slightly off?

[@magicshopindia8725]

Whalien 52 😭😭

[@Studio23Media]

So if he lives long enough, he might find friends!

[@nafisasaminananna6500]

Whalien 52 bought me here after so many years!

[@shook4kooks4k95]

💜

[@jhencydneylopez6460]

I came here because of bts whalien 52

[@SoulShokan]

i came here because of the whale

[@mistaken-be5ku]

Bts sucks

[@InTheEyesofEris]

I heard about the loneliest whale 1st before BTS but I was so impressed on how ingenious they are w/ associating Blue 52 w a song they created. So much respect for these guys. Not all KPop Groups are deep thinkers and well-aware as they are which makes me love them. I'm glad they influenced you to search more about Blue 52. 💜

[@mistaken-be5ku]

@Morgan Crofts thk you i see why people like it but i kinda dont

[@bangtanssimp6062]

Me too

[@abcdefg6275]

Came here from the bts song "whalien 52". You should listen to it, the lyrics talk about this

[@gmalamat1393]

Bruh dude, stop, just stop

[@PositiviteaTheFirst]

I recommend 52 Hearts by Bao

[@mako5260]

“I’m a whale”-jeon jungkook

[@lachi8242]

@@gmalamat1393, I see no problem. It's a good song :)

[@mako5260]

@@gmalamat1393 why

[@chuuu4610]

Her: Congratulations! You are probably under 25. Me: Thanks, I am. Didn’t hear anything though.

[@Negentropy.]

Why doesn't the whale just find some other whales and swim with those whales and just not say anything...he can be the introvert of the pod

[@sandythao5028]

Species can tell from their own species.

[@MonaLisaFace]

That whale is my soulmate

[@Jorge-ux8bd]

I’m the loneliest whale that’s been calling out 😔

[@bears.beets.battlestarjuju]

30 and heard the mosquitoe noise...HAVE I BEEN LIED TO!?!?! I'm actually under 25!

[@patman6928]

1:53 i cannot hear anything no matter what i do T_T

[@natasxeslived]

I'm 38 and I could hear the mosquitoe sound

[@skinny900n]

10:16 is that a bottle of whale oil in the back? like is she even on our side?

[@beekid3877]

I didn't come here to learn about frequency. Just to see how lonely this whale is cuz same bro

[@tonywalton1052]

Whale oil soap is so clean and refreshing

[@Amba-The-Great]

You monster 👹

[@liamlewisdiesca5209]

Poor Lonely Whale

[@romanatorx3949]

Amazing host

[@raka7743]

the song whalien 52 by bts made me come here...........

[@cleeorr]

instead of the surprise factor for the mosquito tone- a warning would be nice considering you asked us to put headphones on :[

[@frayedsoul5365]

Is it bad I couldn’t hear it and I’m fourteen. But I am struggling with not being able to pop my ears right now. It just goes blank.

[@kavi_army8235]

I hear the lonely whale from. Bts so I want to know whales story

[@asemy1503]

Can we talk about the sound system from the 1960s 💀

[@iheartdoggos2534]

FIND THAT WHALE! WE NEED TO FIND THAT WHALE TO GIVE IT A FRIEND!

[@zamjed8057]

what if.. it's just.. hitting them high notes...

[@victorokponganam]

Thanks 🙏 to your KZbin channel 🔥🔥 I’m done ✅ complaining 😭 and have decided 🤸🏽‍♂️ to start a KZbin channel

[@-MochiWochi-]

The 52hertz whale, could well be the last of its kind

[@-MochiWochi-]

The others probably died cus of that

[@StarcleBlaze]

The call in the video is sped up. The actual call is very low to human ears. But too high for whales. Kinda crazy

[@nickibradbeer2815]

It could be that we can hear it for a reason. We need to find it. Bad!

[@gloriaurias6970]

Bats can here up to 90,000 hz so even if they here a roar in between that they won’t go deaf

[@Panyofr]

Sosus... so sus 😳

[@squigglystuffs]

Whalien 52 is about somthing like this?

[@deanfirnatine7814]

2015 is the last time anyone heard it? I would assume it has passed if that is the case

[@Grubsndoodles]

1, i have Tinnitus.. and 2, i listen to whale songs to help me fall asleep.. :D

[@Pucciii882]

I’m 21 and I can’t hear the mosquito tone 😭

[@andromeda8rose]

Are you originally from Ireland by any chance? I think I hear the wisp of an accent

[@123GoldenRetrievers]

Where are my Chuang 2021 people at? Also, who is cutting the fucking onions 😭, I can’t stop sobbing.

[@muhammada2445]

Listen to bts whalien52 💜

[@keirasweeney14]

I wanna know where it was

[@alansilvestri2375]

Beautiful lady....Lithuanian/Latvian descent.

[@mattmason2430]

What Hz is lifelong tinnitus again?

[@cameronkuehn2077]

I’m 19 and couldn’t hear it 1:54 smh

[@theblackpearl3880]

So we started talking about the 52 Hertz whale, and somehow we fell into a pile of fragrant whale 💩

[@cheapskatepanic]

I'm 48 and couldn't hear it.

[@maxinewest4096]

Lonely whale, I would think it has company with others fishes

[@CleanDeeds]

sorry i just stepped on a lego.

[@TarekMidani]

I'm 26, and when I heard the sound, I felt good about something I didn't work for to earn 😂 🎉

[@Linuxfy]

I'm 24 and I heart nothing. WTF. I got scams

[@april746]

Linuxfy 〽 I’m 17 and I didn’t hear anything -

[@airadiaz4374]

Lol is there really something we should hear. I don’t hear anything

[@irishboi7596]

@@airadiaz4374 im 16 and ye.. I'm sorry for your loss..

[@TofuGCH]

I'm here becuz of a certain Whale

[@BlueSky9103]

It's laboon searching for brook and the straw hats

[@thetntminecartt2564]

Plot twist it’s not a whale at all

[@maxinewest4096]

Sounds like some humans, the lonely humans,. Thanks God for videos and television,. It keeps the noise going.

[@Malneyadii]

How tf are people older than 25 hearing it. I'm 16 and can't hear shit

[@charlieteasdale2499]

I can't hear the mosquitoe sound and I am 15 why

[@liltonyabc]

Did you use headphones?

[@bunnies8773]

You old :P

[@treborhceem9302]

I turned 25, 14 seconds ago... Now I can't hear it

[@tonybarde2572]

It was a common species long ago. Then the whalers came...

[@estellagranillo5453]

How sad!!!

[@abigaileldritch]

This video is ADHD simulator. This woman goes off topic so quickly