A whale song is the collection of sounds made by whales to
communicate. The word "song" is used in particular to describe the
pattern of predictable and repetitious sounds made by certain species
of whales (notably the humpback whale) in a manner that to cetologists
is reminiscent of human singing. The biological processes used to
produce sound vary from one family of cetaceans to another. However,
all whales, dolphins, and porpoises are much more dependent on sound
for communication and sensation than their terrestrial cousins because
the absorption of light by water makes sight difficult and because the
relatively slow movement of water compared to air decreases the
effectiveness of the sense of smell. Increased ambient noise in the
world's oceans due to shipping gives rise to environmentalists'
concerns that humans are destroying this important feature of the
marine habitat.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_song
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1880:
Australian outlaw and folk hero Ned Kelly was captured in Glenrowan,
Victoria.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ned_Kelly)
1914:
Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, was killed by Serb nationalist
Gavrilo Princip in the Assassination in Sarajevo, catalysing the
outbreak of World War I.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_in_Sarajevo)
1919:
The Treaty of Versailles was signed, ending World War I.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles)
1978:
The United States Supreme Court, in Regents of the University of
California v. Bakke 438 US 265 1978, barred quota systems in college
admissions but affirmed the constitutionality of programs giving
advantage to minorities.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regents_of_the_University_of_California_v._Bak…)
1990:
Paperback Software, a company founded by Adam Osborne, was found
guilty by a U.S. court of copyright violation for copying the
appearance and menu system of Lotus 1-2-3 in its competing spreadsheet
program.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Osborne)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
"Now you see, Lone Starr, that evil will always triumph, because good
is dumb." -- "Dark Helmet" in Spaceballs by Mel Brooks
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Spaceballs)