Unraveling the Mystery of the Deep-Ocean ‘Biotwang’ Sound
A mysterious sound known as the “biotwang” has puzzled scientists for the past decade, originating from the depths of the Mariana Trench. The unique noise, described as a combination of low, sonorous grunting followed by a squeaky, mechanical echo, has left researchers scratching their heads since its initial discovery. Lauren Harrell, a data scientist at Google Research’s AI for Social Good, likened the sound to a hearty groan followed by the iconic “bip boo, bip boo” sound of the Star Trek Enterprise ship.
The enigmatic biotwang was first captured by autonomous underwater gliders in 2014, echoing through the miles-deep waters of the Mariana Trench. Despite numerous theories, researchers were unable to pinpoint the source of the sound. Ann Allen, a research oceanographer at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), mentioned that the sound resembled artificial whale calls from Star Wars, leading some to speculate that it may be produced by a baleen whale. However, Allen emphasized that the sound was unlike anything produced by typical marine animals.
Solving the mystery of the biotwang proved to be a challenging task, requiring a stroke of luck and precise timing. It wasn’t until researchers from NOAA, while surveying whales near the Mariana Islands, spotted a rare species known as the Bryde’s whale, that the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. On multiple occasions when the Bryde’s whales were sighted, the researchers also heard the distinct biotwang sound. This repeated correlation solidified the connection between the peculiar noise and the elusive Bryde’s whale.
To confirm their findings, researchers delved into years of audio data collected from underwater hydrophones. With over 200,000 hours of recordings in NOAA’s database, manual analysis was deemed impossible. This led Allen to seek assistance from Google, who provided AI tools to expedite the analysis process. By converting audio data into spectrograms and training algorithms to detect specific frequencies, researchers were able to identify the unique sound produced by Bryde’s whales.
The comprehensive study published in Frontiers in Marine Science shed light on the association between biotwangs and Bryde’s whales in the western North Pacific. By analyzing the data, researchers were able to distinguish a distinct population of Bryde’s whales and track their movements across different seasons and years. This newfound understanding of the whales’ behavior could have significant implications for conservation efforts, particularly in light of changing environmental conditions.
As climate change continues to impact ocean ecosystems, the movements of Bryde’s whales may be influenced by shifts in their prey’s distribution. With the aid of AI models, researchers hope to correlate whale behavior with climate and environmental factors to better protect these majestic creatures. By studying the acoustic signals emitted by Bryde’s whales, scientists can gain insights into their communication patterns and environmental adaptations.
Despite the advancements in technology, there are limitations to AI algorithms in detecting subtle changes in baleen whale vocalizations. As vocalizations vary over time and between populations, researchers must continuously refine their methods to accurately interpret whale language. By making these tools open-source, scientists worldwide can contribute to the ongoing research and expand our understanding of the underwater acoustic world.
The discovery of the source of the biotwang highlights the importance of unraveling the mysteries of the deep ocean. By bridging the gap between science and technology, researchers can unlock the secrets hidden beneath the waves and pave the way for a deeper understanding of marine life. As Olaf Meynecke from Griffith University aptly puts it, “It’s about time that we change our perception and gain access to this incredible underwater realm.”