Student's AI Tool Detects Minke Whales to Aid Conservation

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This 22-year-old student built an AI tool that's saving elusive minke whales from extinction.

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Minke whales make unique sounds underwater - from mechanical "downsweeps" to mysterious "boings" that puzzled scientists for decades.

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"They're fast, deep divers, so we don't know much about their migration patterns," says Oscar Mower, who created the breakthrough technology.

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Hidden beneath the waves, these underwater microphones record thousands of hours of ocean sounds that used to take weeks for scientists to analyze.

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The AI now does this work instantly, alerting ships when minke whales are nearby so they can change course or reduce noise.

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Despite being one of the more abundant whale species, minke whales face serious threats from commercial whaling and fishing nets.

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Mass strandings of minke whales have increased in recent years, with many deaths remaining unexplained.

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How does noise from deep-sea drilling affect these sensitive marine mammals? The AI tool helps plan safer operations.

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"It's fantastic to see machine learning being used to enhance conservation efforts," says Sea Shepherd Australia's managing director.

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From childhood whale-watching trips to creating life-saving technology - Oscar's journey shows how passion can drive innovation.

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