Some Secrets about Sound

Today I am reading Secrets of Sound: Studying the Calls and Songs of Whales, Elephants, and Birds by April Pulley Sayre.

It is part of the Scientists in the Field book series which I have a few of and plan to order some more... they are really well written, interesting, and could spark interest in some of my students.  I love it when my students are interested... then the work just falls away.

In this book various ways scientists use sound to study animals are explored.  From the smallest birds to the largest mammals on earth (whales and elephants) sound plays an important role.  I found it fascinating that the biggest jump forward in whale research was the end of the cold war.  At that time the military decided to let the scientists look at the data that had been recorded by thousands of sound stations deep in the oceans meant to detect submarine activity.  Once the information was shared the scientists had piles of new information and the military also learned what some of what they had labeled as basically question marks were.  (It was mostly whales.)

There was also a lot about elephants.  The low noises they make can give you a stomach ache... this knowledge has been applied to breaking up crowds in riots.  The people nearby get stomaches and leave, so the situation can be under control more quickly.

Much to learn... so open a book.  :)

"The more scientists know about the sounds animals make, the more questions arise.  Today they have more ideas than ever about where to look for animal sounds and what the animals might be saying.  They just need the time, space, funding, and help to find the answers." 55

AR level 7.4: 2.0 points