Researchers Awarded for Identifying First Evidence of Possible Language-Like Communication in Dolphins
By Jill Dando News
A team of scientists studying dolphins off the coast of Florida has won a $100,000 prize for uncovering new clues about how the animals may communicate with each other.
Led by biologist Laela Sayigh from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the researchers focused on “non-signature whistles”—sounds dolphins make that aren’t linked to individual identity.
These make up about half of dolphin vocalizations but haven’t been studied much until now.
Working with the long-running Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, the team recorded wild dolphins using harmless suction-cup tags. They discovered some of these whistles are shared by multiple dolphins and seem to carry specific meanings.
One whistle, for example, caused dolphins to move away—suggesting it might be a warning or alarm.
The prize was part of the first-ever Coller Dolittle Challenge, which encourages scientists to study how animals communicate. Teams from around the world competed, including researchers studying monkeys, birds, and even cuttlefish.
“This kind of research brings us closer to truly understanding the animals we share the planet with,” said Jeremy Coller, founder of the prize.
The team hopes to use AI in the future to explore dolphin communication even further.
If you have a positive story or uplifting news to share, we’d love to hear from you!
Just email us at news@goodnewspost.co.uk.
Whether it's a local hero, an act of kindness, or a personal win, your story could help spread joy and improve someone’s mental health. Let’s make the world a little brighter, one good news story at a time.
And don’t forget—you can sign up for free to get the latest feel-good stories straight to your inbox!
