The Songs Under the Antarctic Ice
Beneath the Antarctic sea ice, divers hear sounds like laser guns and alien trills echoing through the water.
What was reported
Scientists and divers working under the sea ice of Antarctica, such as in McMurdo Sound, have long been startled by the sounds around them: descending whistles, trills, chirps and sweeps that sound like science fiction sound effects, some of them loud enough to feel.
The sounds can be heard through the ice itself, and on hydrophones lowered through holes.
Explanations offered
They are made by Weddell seals, which live further south than any other mammal and spend the winter under the ice, keeping breathing holes open. Males use their calls to defend underwater territories and attract mates. Their sounds travel far in the cold water.
- When
- Recorded for decades
- Where
- McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
- Witnesses
- Researchers and divers
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.