Researchers studying sperm whales in the Arctic Circle have tracked 42 of the giant mammals to better understand an unusual part of their sleep behavior. The focus of the study was a long-noted habit: while resting upright below the surface, some whales release bubbles.
Sperm whales are known to nap in a striking position, hovering several metres underwater in near-vertical lines. The animals can appear motionless, like a row of floating figures, which has made their sleep posture one of the most distinctive sights in whale research.
According to the study, the bubble releases seem to play a practical role rather than being random. The findings suggest the whales use bubbles to help manage buoyancy while they snooze, allowing them to remain suspended close to the surface without fully waking or changing position dramatically.
The result adds a new layer to scientists’ understanding of how sperm whales rest in the open ocean. By linking bubble release with buoyancy control, the research offers a clearer explanation for how these massive animals can maintain their unusual sleeping posture so efficiently.
