Whales are known for their majestic (雄伟的) songs that travel through the ocean depths, but the reasons behind this behavior have long puzzled scientists. Recent research reveals this mystery, suggesting that whales possess a unique voice box that enables their powerful voice, a feature not found in other animals.

In a study published in the journal Nature, Coen Elemans and his team from the University of Southern Denmark examined the voice boxes. By conducting experiments, the researchers identified the tissues responsible for producing sound.

Whales, whose ancestors were land-dwellers around 50 million years ago, have developed their voice boxes over millions of years to adapt to underwater communication. Unlike humans and many other mammals (哺乳动物) , whales lack vocal cords and instead have a unique U-shaped tissue in their voice boxes. This specialized structure allows them to intake large volumes of air and generate sounds by pushing this tissue against a cushion of fat and muscle, a mechanism essential for their deep-sea sound.

The significance of this research is highlighted by Jeremy Goldbogen, an associate professor at Stanford University, who describes it as the most comprehensive study to date on how whales vocalize. He emphasizes the need for further exploration to these marine giants. For instance, humpback whales are known for their sound that can travel vast distances across oceans, serving as a form of communication within whales.

Joy Reidenberg, a whale expert, says, “More experiments are needed to confirm the study’s conclusions and understand how these creatures use their voice boxes to communicate in the ocean.”

Government agencies in many places are using sea creatures to protect coastal areas from storms and rising sea levels. The idea is that large groups of oysters(牡蛎), known as colonies, can help reduce the power of waves. Powerful waves can damage lands along the edge of ocean waters.

Dense Vaccaro’s home was destroyed 10 years ago in super storm Sandy, a big storm that affected the northeast coast of America. The beach she loved is also gone, claimed by rising seas that are damaging the shoreline. “People are losing their property. My home was totally destroyed.” Vaccaro said. Many people around the world have had similar experiences. Once beautiful beach communities are washed away, people living there are having problems dealing with the changes.

Oysters are central to a project that is taking place near Vaccaro’s rebuilt house. The project is being carried out by the American Littoral Society. It received $1 million from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The group has been building steel wire containers, filling them with rocks and oyster shells and positioning them along the shoreline of Barnegat Bay. The oysters appear to be doing their job. One recent day, a strong east wind blew across the bay. But between the oysters and the shoreline, the water was much calmer, and waves went gently onto the shoreline instead of hitting it with force.

A few kilometers south, a group called ReClam the Bay is building an oyster reef to protect the shoreline of Mordecai Island. In New York, city government and federal agencies are building “living shorelines” along the south western end of Long Island. They use oysters, shells and native plants. A similar project in Delaware used 1,300 bags of oyster shells to extend shoreline protection near Lewes Canal Front Park. In Florida, volunteers and researchers established oyster colonies along parts of the Peace River in Punta Gorda.

Vaccaro said her New Jersey home may well depend on the success of many small oysters. “If we don’t do anything, we're not going to have any of these houses,” Vaccaro said.

When the patient arrives, it can barely move its body. The parrot tries to spread its green wings — and fails — to fly. It is just one of dozens of rainbow lorikeets (彩虹鹦鹉) being treated for a mysterious paralyzing (瘫痪) illness. Cases of what is called lorikeet paralysis syndrome (LPS) have been increasing over the past decade, says vet Claude Lacasse.   But scientists are puzzled as to what is causing it.

Lacasse has partnered with several researchers to try solving the mystery. So far, they’ve ruled out hundreds of human-made chemicals as well as various infectious diseases. Their current theory is that LPS is caused by a plant the birds are eating, something that flowers or fruits between late spring and early fall — when cases always rise.

But researchers have no idea which plant or plants might be involved, why the disease is getting worse or whether climate change is playing a role. For now, the main concern is figuring out everything the sick lorikeets are eating.

Ecologist Rachele Wilson used a technique involving testing DNA in sick birds’ droppings to match it to specific plant DNA. These data suggest the birds are feeding on more than 130 plant species, at least 30 of which are potentially poisonous. Other researchers are not just looking at plant DNA but also at bacterial and animal DNA to allow for the possibility that the birds are swallowing a poisonous insect in fruit, or a poison produced by bacteria found on a plant.

It’s possible climate change plays a role by driving rainbow lorikeets to seek out unusual food sources. Animals are broadening their hunting range and going into more traditionally uninviting areas to find food, including fruit, seeds and, strangely, even meat.

With climate change causing more extreme weather events and intensely hot summers, the need to find what’s paralyzing rainbow lorikeets — and potentially other species — is of urgent concern.

“They’re amazing birds,” Phalen says. “It’s hard to see them as sick as they are.”