Acoustic signals that remain hidden from the eye

From the surface, the ocean appears vast, calm, and uniform, but this impression is deeply misleading. Beneath the waves exists a dynamic and complex world, constantly in motion and rich with life. In the TEDx talk „Sound signals from an invisible world“, Dr. Sven Gastauer from the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries invites us to discover how sound is used to reveal this hidden realm and deepen our understanding of the life it sustains.

Using acoustic signals, scientists can create detailed maps of the seafloor and observe the movements of fish, plankton, and top predators in their natural environments in a non-invasive way. Acoustic instruments deployed on research vessels, underwater robots, and stationary ocean platforms are transforming how we explore the ocean and how we understand the complexity of marine ecosystems.

The talk was presented on October 28, 2025 as part of the TEDx event „Out of the Blue“ an took place for the first time at Hochschule Bremerhaven. TEDx is a regionally organised TED (=Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference that brings together people from different fields and areas of expertise under the theme ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’. This time, the theme is 'Out of the Blue'. Our colleague Sven Gastauer's presentation was recorded and can be viewed on the TEDx Youtube channel under the title 'Sound Signals from an Invisible World'.

In case you have questions regarding this topic, feel free to contact Dr. Sven Gastauer.

Further information on this exciting topic can be found here:

• Zooglider - an autonomous underwater vehicle
• Pinging fishes - what goes around comes around