Mystery of the Loneliest Whale: US Navy Detects Unexplained 52-Hertz Call

• Since 1989, US Navy hydrophones have detected a unique 52-hertz whale call in the Pacific Ocean, significantly higher than known blue or fin whale frequencies.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers tracked the sound for over 12 years, primarily between August and February, suggesting a single individual.
• The whale, nicknamed the "loneliest whale," has never been seen, and its species, sex, and the reason for its unusual frequency remain unknown.
• Theories for the strange frequency include a vocal abnormality or hybrid ancestry, possibly a "flue whale" (blue and fin whale hybrid).
• The whale's story has captured global imagination, inspiring BTS's song "Whalien 52" and a 2021 documentary, highlighting ocean noise pollution.

Why It Matters: A mysterious 52-hertz whale call, tracked for decades, continues to baffle scientists and captivate the public.