Blue whale males now singing bass, say scientists

The songs of blue whales around the world have become significantly less high-pitched over the last 40 years, according to scientists. Boffins analysing the trend believe it may be to do with an increase in whale populations following the international ban on commercial whaling. The shift from piping treble to rumbling bass is …

[AceRimmer]

Climate Change Not to Blame?

So climate change isn't to blame then? I think they had better go back and check their findings unless they want to find their funding mysteriously cut!

[Hermes Conran]

The Walrus of love,

Will be smiling in his icy tomb..

[Snowy]

Final countdown!

The whales are a counting down and Giai is going to kill us off when they get they get to zero.

[Mike Moyle]

Now if only...

...this held true for other populations then, as humans became yet more numerous, the incidence of boy bands would drop precipitously -- which could only be a good thing.

[Chris Fox]

CO2, acidification and acoustics

There is reliable evidence that increasing acidification of the oceans due to rising atmospheric CO2 levels is increasing the distance that underwater sounds are travelling by very significant amounts. It has been predicted that this will lead to a change in the behaviour of marine animals that use sound, including whales. Perhaps this is relevant?

This acoustic effect is described in the recent, and widely distributed report on the potentially catastrophic impact of acidification of the oceans. No doubt The Register is reluctant to mention this report as it would be at odds with their anti-science editorial stance on issues relating to CO2 emissions, and jeopardise their income from advertisers who have an interest in the continued consumption of fossil fuels.

[Steve Roper]

Oh please...

The Reg isn't anti-science, in fact with it's healthy skepticism it's more pro-science than the so-called "climate scientists" using fudged figures to push their political agenda and secure more funding. There is NO empirical evidence to show that the current warming / cooling (depending on whose figures you believe) of the Earth is anything to do with man's activities or part of a natural long-term cycle.

Remember that during the Jurassic the Earth had no ice caps at all, and was several degrees hotter than it is now. What brought that about? Dinosaur farts? Remember that in the Middle Ages was the "little Ice Age" where the Thames would freeze over in winter, and the planet has been slowly warming since then. We've had some massive volcanic eruptions in the meantime. And when one volcano like Krakatoa can spit out more CO2 and SO2 in 2 days than all our industries would in 200 years, who's to say that what we're doing is having any real effect?

So why not consider these possibilities as well as just the AGW propaganda, and actually think for yourself?

[Anonymous Coward]

@SR

"...one volcano like Krakatoa can spit out more CO2 and SO2 in 2 days than all our industries would in 200 years..."

Really, is that true? I'd love to see a paper on that.

[Anonymous Coward]

@Chris Fox - catastrophic impact

OMFG...next thing you know, you'll drop a blue whale into the ocean and all that acid water will just boil the blubber off it in just under two seconds.

Try some real science next time.

[David Stever]

Barry White? Ally McBeal!

Come on, blokes! If you're going to mention the former in the article, then it's pop culture law that you have to mention the latter.

Eat a sandwich, love. PLEASE.

[DV Henkel-Wallace]

Please help us on the important question

No good just repeating the data. We need some anaysis: to understand its implications for mankind. Specifically: what will be the impact on the rebranding industry????