When sperm whales need a nap, they take a deep breath, dive down about 45 feet and arrange themselves into perfectly-level, vertical patterns. They sleep sound and still for up to two hours at a time between breaths, in pods of five or six whales, possibly for protection.

No one knew whales slept vertically until a 2008 study documented this behavior. And no one captured really good photography of it in the wild until 2017.

#whales #science #biology

Soviet linguist Yuri Knorozov was instrumental in deciphering Mayan script. His whole life he tried to be co-credited with his cat Asya but his editors always refused. In 2012, the Mexicans honored him with a monument that included his beloved cat.

#Caturday #CatsOfMastodon #Catstodon