Mysterious Noises Coming From Mariana Trench for a Decade Finally Explained

Strange
underwater
noises,
known
as
“biotwang”
sounds,
have
puzzled
scientists
since
they
were
first
heard
near
the
Mariana
Trench
in
2014.
These
odd
noises,
described
as
a
combination
of
low
grumbling
and
high-pitched
metallic
ringing,
are
reminiscent
of
eerie
sounds
from
sci-fi
movies.
For
years,
the
source
of
these
noises
was
unknown,
though
they
were
suspected
to
be
connected
to
marine
life.
A
recent
study
has
now
confirmed
that
Bryde’s
whales
(Balaenoptera
edeni)
are
responsible
for
making
these
unique
sounds.
Researchers
believe
the
whales
may
use
these
noises
as
a
way
to
communicate
across
the
vast
ocean.

Biotwang
discovery
and
analysis

The
biotwang
noises
were
initially
recorded
by
underwater
gliders
during
an
acoustic
survey
of
the
Mariana
Trench
as
per
a

study
published
in
the
journal
Frontiers
in
Marine
Science.
Scientists
struggled
to
identify
the
origin
of
these
unusual
sounds.
In
2016,
researchers
proposed
that
the
sounds
likely
came
from
large
baleen
whales
like
blue
whales
or
humpback
whales,
though
they
could
not
be
certain
at
the
time.

It
wasn’t
until
2023
that
the
source
was
definitively
traced
back
to
Bryde’s
whales,
thanks
to
new
advancements
in
artificial
intelligence
(AI).
The
AI
tools
sifted
through
over
200,000
hours
of
recordings
to
help
researchers
identify
the
biotwang
calls.

Tracking
Bryde’s
whales

Ann
Allen,
an
oceanographer
at
the
National
Oceanographic
and
Atmospheric
Administration
(NOAA)
Pacific
Islands
Fisheries
Science
Center,
led
the
study.
Her
team
discovered
that
the
biotwang
noises
aligned
with
the
migration
patterns
of
Bryde’s
whales,
confirming
their
involvement.

The
researchers

observed
Bryde’s
whales
in
the
region
and
recorded
several
making
the
sounds,
further
solidifying
the
connection.
Interestingly,
the
biotwang
noises
were
only
detected
in
the
northwest
Pacific,
suggesting
that
these
calls
might
be
unique
to
a
specific
population
of
whales.

While
the
exact
purpose
of
the
biotwang
calls
remains
unclear,
scientists
believe
they
may
be
a
form
of
long-distance
communication.