ScienceThe NightlyMother whale's heartbreaking moment with stillborn calf in Southeast Queensland
A humpback whale off southeast Queensland was filmed staying with her stillborn calf for hours, the first time this behaviour has been documented in baleen whales.
A never-before scientifically documented moment between a humpback whale and her stillborn calf has scientists rethinking the depth of the creatures’ inner lives.
A Sea World Foundation vessel filmed a mother humpback whale staying beside her stillborn calf at Palm Beach Reef in July 2025, a world first for baleen whale research.
The mother touched the calf with her head and pectoral fin, swam close beside it, and stared into its eyes for hours, possibly days, the study found.
Griffith University researcher Olaf Meynecke says the behaviour suggests strong maternal attachment and possibly grief, reshaping how scientists understand humpback inner lives.
The study, published by Griffith University researcher Olaf Meynecke, says the behaviour is consistent with grief seen in elephants and primates, suggesting humpbacks have deeper emotional lives…
More from Cuppa
SpaceX to fly more NASA crews to space station under expanded $5.92 billion dealNASA has handed SpaceX a $946 million contract for three more astronaut missions to the International Space Station, extending the partnership through 2030.
Coffee on the nanoscale: Graphene oxide membrane removes half the caffeine while retaining key compoundsAustralian researchers at UNSW have developed a graphene oxide membrane that removes about half the caffeine from already-brewed coffee while keeping its flavour compounds intact.
China extending sea dominion to Batanes?China's Coast Guard is now patrolling waters east of the Philippines' Batanes islands, raising fears Beijing is expanding its maritime claims beyond the South China Sea.
Women and girls pay high price in DR Congo Ebola outbreakWomen and girls make up more than half of confirmed Ebola cases in the DR Congo outbreak, largely because they bear the burden of caring for the sick at home.
Macklemore ticket prices rise amid Ed Sheeran tour falloutMacklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after making pro-Palestine comments onstage, and has since announced he will donate his $1 million in tour earnings to Palestinian aid.
UK publisher drops books by David WalliamsHarperCollins UK is dropping David Walliams' entire back catalogue after allegations of harassing female staff, going further than its earlier decision to stop new titles.
Uber ordered to pay $40m to family of woman killed after driver left her on highwayA US jury ordered Uber to pay $40 million to the family of a 23-year-old killed after her driver dumped her and a sick friend on a California highway.
Russians begin voting in parliamentary election set to cement Kremlin's powerRussians have begun three days of voting in a wartime parliamentary election with virtually no opposition, widely expected to cement the Kremlin's grip on power.