Sperm Whales blow bubbles to achieve restful, vertical sleep
hhs
70 points
10 comments
July 24, 2026
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Discussion Highlights (3 comments)
giardini
What happens if they have an attack of flatulence? But seriously, this must happen sometimes!
kazinator
If these are rainbow bubbles, that conclusively proves the whales had ADHD therapy sessions.
dguest
The title of the original article [1] is a lot more clear: Buoyancy regulation through modulation of onboard gas volume by resting sperm whales They don't "blow bubbles" to sleep vertically, they vent gas to regulate their specific gravity. This allows them to sleep vertically just below the surface. The scientists measured the gas release by listening for bubbles. Scuba divers do the same thing, whereas fish rely on actively transporting gas between an internal bladder and their blood. [1]: https://dmscdn.vuelio.co.uk/publicitem/61eae467-9527-4922-b9...