The animals’ complex songs share structural patterns with human language that may make them easier for whales to learn, a new study suggests. By Emily Anthes The English language is full of wond ...

Humpback whale song is a striking example of a complex, culturally transmitted behavior, but up to now, there was little evidence it has language-like structure. Human language, which is also ...

However, research published in Science has uncovered the same statistical structure that is a hallmark of human language in humpback whale song. Humpback whale song is a striking example of a ...

A new study reveals that whale song and human languages share features that make them easier to learn. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) are known for their complex songs. New research ...

Humpback whale songs have statistical patterns in their structure that are remarkably similar to those seen in human language. While this doesn’t mean the songs convey complex meanings like our ...

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This statistical rule is called Zipf’s law, and now, an interdisciplinary team of scientists has revealed that humpback whale songs follow the same pattern. In a study published Thursday in the ...

A groundbreaking study, published in Science, has unearthed surprising parallels between human languages and whale songs, specifically their shared adherence to Zipf's law. The research, led by ...

Whale song can be as efficient as – and, in some cases, more efficient than – human communication, according to a new study in Science Advances. Meanwhile, new unrelated research in Science ...

Researchers say they've discovered that humpback whale song is passed down over the years and changes — something it has in common with human language. (Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images ...