Regina Barber

That's zoologist Greg Okori-Crow. He's with Florida Atlantic University. And he doesn't study unicorns. He studies narwhals, the Arctic whale that has a long tusk jutting out of its head. And it's sometimes called the unicorn of the sea. Greg says way back when, seafarers brought narwhal tusks back to Europe and passed them off as unicorn horns.

That's zoologist Greg Okori-Crow. He's with Florida Atlantic University. And he doesn't study unicorns. He studies narwhals, the Arctic whale that has a long tusk jutting out of its head. And it's sometimes called the unicorn of the sea. Greg says way back when, seafarers brought narwhal tusks back to Europe and passed them off as unicorn horns.

And even though they're not really unicorn horns, they're kind of magical.

And even though they're not really unicorn horns, they're kind of magical.

And even though they're not really unicorn horns, they're kind of magical.

A tusk can be 10 feet long, and he says it's beautiful.

A tusk can be 10 feet long, and he says it's beautiful.

A tusk can be 10 feet long, and he says it's beautiful.

So he was actually talking about this with my colleague, science correspondent Nell Greenfield-Boyce. And Nell, I hear you're no stranger to narwhal tusks yourself, right?

So he was actually talking about this with my colleague, science correspondent Nell Greenfield-Boyce. And Nell, I hear you're no stranger to narwhal tusks yourself, right?

So he was actually talking about this with my colleague, science correspondent Nell Greenfield-Boyce. And Nell, I hear you're no stranger to narwhal tusks yourself, right?

I mean, I would have. Okay, so moving on to what narwhals eat and how this might relate to their tusks and why we wanted to talk to you today, we understand that there's some new drone footage of narwhals. Indeed. I am so excited. Okay, so today on the show, we're going to dive into what scientists recently saw when they spied on narwhals with overhead drones.

I mean, I would have. Okay, so moving on to what narwhals eat and how this might relate to their tusks and why we wanted to talk to you today, we understand that there's some new drone footage of narwhals. Indeed. I am so excited. Okay, so today on the show, we're going to dive into what scientists recently saw when they spied on narwhals with overhead drones.

I mean, I would have. Okay, so moving on to what narwhals eat and how this might relate to their tusks and why we wanted to talk to you today, we understand that there's some new drone footage of narwhals. Indeed. I am so excited. Okay, so today on the show, we're going to dive into what scientists recently saw when they spied on narwhals with overhead drones.

and what it says about what this mysterious whale might do with its unusual and fantastical tusk. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

and what it says about what this mysterious whale might do with its unusual and fantastical tusk. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

and what it says about what this mysterious whale might do with its unusual and fantastical tusk. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

OK, now let's just start with the basics when it comes to narwhals.

OK, now let's just start with the basics when it comes to narwhals.

OK, now let's just start with the basics when it comes to narwhals.