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Humpback whales are far better known for their bellowing "songs" that can travel up to six miles, but the animals also have quiet voices. Biologists have observed humpback calves “whispering” to their mothers in tones that can be heard only within 330 feet—a strategy to prevent predators, such as orcas, from eavesdropping. Calves also want to avoid adult male humpbacks, which may try to separate the calf from its mother to mate. This shortened time with its mom could ultimately weaken the calf, which needs to drink 50 gallons of milk a day to fuel up for its long migration.

N7Y51 TIL a study of spiny lobsters showed they avoid others who've contracted an infectious disease called PaV1 that is transmitted by physical contact and which has a steady 7% infection rate in Florida waters. Spiny lobsters are very social and share communal dens but will shun infected individuals.
d8N4j TIL about the 18th century folk song Maggie May. A prostitute in Liverpool who robs sailors after spending the night with them, Maggie is eventually caught and sent to the Botany Bay penal colony in Australia. It's possible the song's story is of a real woman, Nellie Ray, a prostitute and thief.
VB06G TIL that in 1960, only 4% of people in the US opted for cremation. By 2018, 80% of people in the US are expected to opt for it.
l770r TIL that Bermuda has no natural water source. Each house collects rainwater using white, stepped roofs.
8aPyX TIL In 1957, a terminal cancer patient was given a worthless drug that caused his tumors to “melt like snowballs on a hot stove.” When he found out it was proven worthless, his cancer returned. He was given a placebo version and it went away again. Got truth again and died.