Science - Archytele

Sperm whales use a structured system of vocalizations that functions like a phonetic alphabet, according to a study published in the Proceedings B journal. These animals don’t simply emit random noises; they communicate through “codas”—short, rhythmic clicks that follow a structural logic remarkably similar to human speech.

Researchers found that whales differentiate vowels through a combination of duration and pitch. By employing elongated clicks or shifting between rising and falling tones, the whales create patterns that mirror the phonetics of languages such as Mandarin, Latin, and Slovenian.

Sperm whale vocalizations follow a structural logic similar to human speech

The communication system relies on a complex hierarchical order. It isn’t just a collection of signals but a sophisticated phonology where specific sounds act as building blocks for meaning.

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A-codas, for instance, last significantly longer than i-codas. This distinction mirrors human linguistic mechanics; to produce a lower “a” sound, a human must open their jaw wider, which naturally extends the sound. While whales lack jaws that function this way, they achieve a similar acoustic result through different biological means.

The Coda System Sperm whales use a series of short clicks called codas, which researchers have identified as the primary unit of their “alphabet.”

Inside the nasal passage, phonic lips generate the clicks

Physical mechanisms in the whale’s nose replace the human larynx. They possess internal “phonic lips” that vibrate to create sound, which then connect to an air sac that shapes the quality of the acoustic output.

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This biological hardware allows them to produce the vowel-like acoustics identified in the study. Because these sounds aren’t random by-products of click production, the authors argue that the system is intentionally structured to convey specific information.

Why vowel length changes the meaning of a coda

Variation in sound length can entirely alter the intent of a message. In human languages like Hungarian, the difference between a short and long vowel can change a word from “wine” (bor) to “boron” (bór).

The CETI team observed a similar elasticity in i-codas, which appear in both long and short versions. This suggests that duration is a key variable in their communicative toolkit, allowing for a density of meaning that exceeds simple signaling.

Linking sounds together requires a process called coarticulation. In English, when saying “handbag,” the “d” sound is softened as it merges with the “b.” Sperm whales exhibit this same behavior; when switching between a-codas and i-codas, they often adjust the initial click to match the previous sound.

This structural adjustment is one of the most sophisticated findings in the study. It indicates that whales are making real-time modifications to their speech to maintain the flow of communication.

Research operations off the coast of Dominica

Project CETI (Cetacean Translation Initiative) conducts this research in the waters off Dominica. The team focuses on the brief windows when whales surface to socialize after deep dives that can last up to 50 minutes.

Researchers uncover 'phonetic alphabet' of sperm whales | REUTERS

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These surface interactions, which David Gruber, president of Project CETI, describes as “chit-chat,” involve whales placing their heads close together to exchange clicks. To the human ear, the sound is a staccato morse code, but the proximity suggests a high level of sophistication.

Gruber notes that these creatures may have been passing cultural and communal information across generations for over 20 million years. Modern AI tools are only now providing the means to decode a complexity that has existed since long before humans developed speech.

How do sperm whales physically produce their “vowels”?

They use internal “phonic lips” located in their noses that vibrate similarly to human vocal chords. These lips are connected to an air sac, which is believed to shape the sound’s quality and create the vowel-like acoustics.

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What is coarticulation in the context of whale communication?

Coarticulation is the process where the first click of a vowel is shaped by the sound that immediately preceded it. This results in structural adjustments when the whale switches between different types of codas, a feature that is a hallmark of human language.

Four astronauts departed Florida’s Space Coast on April 1, 2026, aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket to execute a 10-day voyage around the moon. The crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—returned with a digital archive that transforms the lunar flyby from a technical exercise into a high-definition visual record.

Throughout the voyage, the crew relied on a novel laser-based communications system to beam perspective-shattering visuals back to Earth in real time. These images provided the public with an immediate window into the mission’s milestones, from the initial ascent to the capstone lunar flyby.

Orion’s laser communication system beamed high-resolution images to Earth

Commander Wiseman used long-exposure photography to document Earth from a distance not seen by human eyes in over half a century. One specific set of images captured the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis creeping across the magnetic poles, a phenomenon triggered by a coronal mass ejection from the sun prior to launch.

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Other captures focused on the “terminator,” the stark line dividing day and night on the planet’s surface. Wiseman also documented the Orion spacecraft itself during routine inspections on the second day of the mission, providing a rare “selfie” of the vehicle in deep space.

The precision of the digital imaging equipment allowed the crew to capture illuminated cities dotting the continents of a crescent Earth. These images weren’t just for public consumption; they served as a primary method of communicating the mission’s status to the world.

SLS Rocket Configuration The Space Launch System features a core stage with an expendable fuel tank of liquid hydrogen and oxygen, flanked by two solid rocket boosters that are recovered for reuse after helping the spacecraft reach escape velocity.

Why human eyes provide more data than satellite imagery

On the sixth day of the mission, the crew began intensive lunar observations. Pilot Victor Glover described the sight of the lunar terminator to Houston mission control as “fantastic,” noting a desire for more time to describe the spectacle of light and shadow on the moon’s surface.

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The crew focused heavily on far-side features, including the Orientale Basin. While satellites have mapped these regions for years, NASA scientists prioritized human observation to capture nuances in hue and topography that automated sensors often miss.

This human-centric approach to data collection marks a return to the observational style of the early space race. The crew’s ability to interpret and photograph these features in situ provides a layer of geological context that orbital imagery cannot replicate.

The technical scale of the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket

The Orion spacecraft serves as the crew’s home and workspace, designed to be 50% larger than the Apollo command modules used in the 1960s and 70s. This increased volume supports the crew’s needs over a 10-day journey and ensures the vehicle can be reused for future missions.

See Pics of Dark Side of Moon Captured by Artemis II Astronauts

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Getting the crew to the moon required the Space Launch System, NASA’s most powerful rocket to date. On April 2, the Orion spacecraft burned 6,700 pounds of fuel to break Earth’s orbit and commit to its lunar trajectory.

The launch sequence was documented by a three-minute exposure showing the parabolic path of the SLS and the exhaust from its four main engines. Once the solid rocket boosters completed their task of achieving escape velocity, they separated from the core stage and returned to Earth for recovery.

How did the crew send high-resolution photos back to Earth?

The mission utilized a novel laser-based communications system that allowed the Orion spacecraft to beam stunning, perspective-shattering visuals to Earth in real time.

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What specific lunar features did the astronauts photograph?

The crew captured detailed images of the lunar “terminator”—the border between the moon’s day and night hemispheres—and far-side features like the Orientale Basin, focusing on topography and hues that satellites cannot fully convey.