In 1984, researchers at the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego discovered that a beluga whale named NOC could produce vocalizations resembling human speech. Initially thought to be distant conversations, these sounds were later identified as NOC's unique vocal mimicry. Unlike typical beluga calls, NOC's sounds were several octaves lower and had an amplitude rhythm similar to human speech, as described in a study published in *Current Biology*. Marine biologist Sam Ridgway noted that NOC had to physically alter his sound production method, increasing air pressure in his nasal tract to create these unusual noises. While he was not speaking English or understanding language, NOC's ability to imitate sounds he frequently heard from divers and trainers highlighted an advanced form of vocal learning in whales. After approximately four years of producing these sounds, NOC ceased as he reached sexual maturity and passed away in 1999. Decades later, recordings of his eerie, human-like sounds continue to circulate, emphasizing the potential for complex communication among whales.