Drone video shows orcas using kelp as a tool

Episode 790 of the Plain English podcast, hosted by Jeff at Plain English, titled "Drone video shows orcas using kelp as a tool" was published on July 14, 2025 and runs 14 minutes.

July 14, 2025 ·14m · Plain English

0:00 / 0:00

Episode Description

Today's story: Orcas are the largest type of dolphin, and they're known for their intelligence. A recent study proves they are more clever than previously thought. Researchers captured video of orcas using kelp to groom each other. The behavior shows not only tool use, but also cooperation between individuals—a rare behavior for animals that live in the sea.

Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/790

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/790

--

Plain English helps you improve your English:

Learn about the world and improve your English
Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
New stories every week
Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Part 6: Section 2

Apr 11, 2026 ·11m

Part 6: Section 3

Apr 11, 2026 ·19m

Part 6: Section 4

Apr 11, 2026 ·37m

Part 6: Section 5

Apr 11, 2026 ·28m

Part 6: Section 6

Apr 11, 2026 ·18m

Part 6: Section 7

Apr 11, 2026 ·22m

Similar Podcasts

Sex: Avoided Subjects Discussed in Plain English (version 2) by Henry Stanton Loyal Books Henry Stanton was appalled at the shocking lack of information given to young people about sex and reproduction in his time. He felt this was a crime that needed to be fixed and so he wrote this book explaining sex for young and old. Ignorance of basic reproductive processes he felt led to experimentation that then led to sin, crime and prostitution. While this book is definitely not written in what I would call Plain English, contains some very questionable 'facts' about masturbation and menstruation and might seem very moralistic and dogmatic to our current society, he does hold out high ideas for all in affairs of self respect, love and marriage. If nothing else, this is a delightful peek into the thoughts of almost all people our very recent country's past Online Marketing Magic Fritha Stuttard We are here to take away the fear of digital marketing - and to break it down into easy-to-understand lessons - in plain English!Done well, digital marketing is like a magic wand that brings you visibility, customers and profit! The Lawyer and the Layman™️ The Lawyer and the Layman A fun laidback Podcast hosted by Journalist Yolisa Mkele (the Layman) and Family Law Expert Jennifer Stoler (the Lawyer). The pair translates South African legalese into plain English.The goal is simple: Educate, Empower, Uplift and Entertain.There will be none of that highfalutin legal speak here, just two friends (and sometimes guest speakers) talking about the law, its workings and giving people the tools to protect themselves.Buckle up – it is going to be a ride Investing in Rental Property Colin Murphy, Torcana.com Hosted by Colin Murphy, the Torcana podcasts are for anybody who wants to learn more about building a rental property portfolio with strong cashflow and stable tenants. In plain English and with lots of real life examples, Colin & his guests talk about the lessons learned and mistakes made when buying, renovating, managing and selling millions of dollars worth of rental properties. They focus on the nuts and bolts of real estate investing and try to give actionable and practical tips with every episode. How do you analyse deals? What is the best way to invest out of state or overseas?How can you find good managers and contractors? What are the major mistakes to avoid when renovating and renting?Tune into our podcasts for your answers!

URL copied to clipboard!