Undersea optical fibres detect the motion of silent whales

Researchers have discovered a new way to track whales using undersea optical fiber cables. The technology, called distributed acoustic sensing, detects the vibrations created by whales moving through the ocean—even when the animals aren't vocalizing. According to Physics World, this method could provide a powerful new tool for monitoring whale populations around the world without relying on traditional sonar or acoustic recordings. The approach uses existing submarine cables, turning the infrastructure that powers the internet into an underwater sensing network.

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