Proceedings of the Royal Society B

Scientists observed sperm whales in the Mediterranean developing a distinct vocal dialect over 20 years, with groups near the Hellenic Trench off Crete using a faster version of a coda while occasionally reverting to an older dialect. The study highlights cultural evolution in real time and suggests a west-to-east population spread of sperm whales in the region.

A 300-million-year-old fossil initially identified as the world's oldest octopus is now reclassified as the oldest soft-tissue nautilus after analysis revealed distinct dental features. Researchers from the University of Reading used synchrotron technology to examine the fossil, highlighting a significant gap in the fossil record for octopuses.