Frequently cited as an “insane mystery science hasn’t solved”, the bloop looks to have a reasonable explanation. Was it a mystery monster squid as most commonly thought? Sadly, no.

First some background in case you haven’t heard about the bloop: Skeptoid

It came from the depths of the South Pacific. Throughout the summer of 1997, a sound never before recorded burst from the abyss. News agencies scrambled; was this some new leviathan, an unknown monster from the deep? Nobody knew, and though this recording has taken its place among the permanent fixtures of the museums of the strange, the Bloop has never been identified.

Until now.

Acoustics Monitoring Program – Icequakes (Bloop).

The broad spectrum sounds recorded in the summer of 1997 are consistent with icequakes generated by large icebergs as they crack and fracture. NOAA hydrophones deployed in the Scotia Sea detected numerous icequakes with spectrograms very similar to “Bloop”.

They have even identified the probable location.

More: A collection of sounds from the sea.

Tip: Matt Crowley

UPDATE: This post has gotten very high hits. Many commenters at various sites have revelled in railing on how this is NOT news. Well, as a follower of strange natural phenomena, and one who wished this ACTUALLY WAS the sound of an unknown animal, this was the first I’d heard of this information. It apparently the first time it was posted in this format on the NOAA account. So, it’s news to a LOT of people.