This week on Quirks & Quarks with Bob McDonald:
Unusual movements of the Earth in the North linked to climate change
In the Northwest Territories of Canada, the permafrost is exhibiting unprecedented behavior, resulting in a new phenomenon known as permafrost detachment slides. This frozen ground, which constitutes approximately 50% of Canada’s land area, is melting due to rising temperatures in the Arctic. Consequently, large sections of ice and soil, sometimes comparable in size to houses, are breaking free and sliding down hillsides. Duane Froese, a geoscientist from the University of Alberta, cautions that such events will likely become more frequent in the future. This study has been published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Why sperm whales produce bubbles while sleeping
Sperm whales exhibit a unique behavior of sleeping in a vertical position within the ocean. Their enormous, oil-filled heads function like a buoy, causing them to rise to the surface when they become stationary. Previous studies noted that they emit bubbles while resting, prompting biologist Noémie Freymond to explore this phenomenon during her master’s research at the University of St. Andrews. Her findings revealed that the whales produce bubbles to maintain their position beneath the water’s surface. This research was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
Sperm whales rest vertically. Recent studies indicate they blow bubbles while they sleep to keep from rising to the surface. (Stéphane Granzotto)
Reducing wind turbine blade speed could recover lost energy from changing winds
Wind farm operators face financial losses due to fluctuating winds. To investigate potential improvements, John Kurelek, a mechanical engineer from Queen’s University, alongside his team, examined a miniature wind turbine within a pressurized wind tunnel to assess the power lost during changes in wind direction. Their findings, published in PNAS Nexus, indicated that slowing down blade rotation could enhance energy output.
Wind turbines near Pincher Creek, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Insights from a new lunar crater on incoming asteroids — and the potential to destroy them
In the spring of 2024, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) documented a before-and-after image of a significant asteroid collision on the moon. UCLA planetary scientist David Paige observed a seven-kilometer-wide ring of displaced regolith surrounding the 222-meter impact crater. His research, published in Science Advances, will assist scientists in better comprehending the tumultuous history of asteroid impacts in our solar system’s vicinity.
Beyond asteroid tracking, scientists are devising strategies to protect against potentially dangerous asteroids. Isaiah Santistevan, a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has simulated the impact of a nuclear explosion on an asteroid large enough to threaten a city. His findings indicate that detonating a nuclear device 10 to 25 meters from the asteroid could neutralize the risk in the vacuum of space. The X-rays emitted would vaporize the asteroid’s outer layer, redirecting it away from a collision course with Earth, akin to a rocket’s propulsion. This research is detailed in The Planetary Science Journal.
This lunar crater, identified in October 2025 by Robert Wagner, measures 222 meters wide, marking it as the largest newly discovered crater in the solar system. (Robert Wagner/Intuitive Machines/NASA Goddard/)
Birdsong exhibits similar patterns to human language
Globally, human speech exhibits recognizable patterns irrespective of the language spoken. Interestingly, birdsong displays similar characteristics. A recent study analyzed songs from 367 bird species and compared them with 52 languages, revealing consistent patterns in both, such as sound sequences, synchronized vocal movements, and pitch variations. Jon Sakata, a biologist at McGill University, and his team utilized a vast collection of international birdsongs gathered by citizen scientists for their research. Their findings were published in the journal Science.
An illustration of a Fox Sparrow, a bird species found throughout North America. (Damond Kyllo)