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Penguins’ Secret Superpower and Tech Behind Nat Geo’s ‘Secrets of the Penguins’

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In the “Secrets of the Penguins” series by National Geographic, spectators are left breathless by the stunning visuals of vast Antarctic vistas and close-up animal interactions. However, not all breathtaking scenes ended up in the broadcast version.

During an engaging interview with ScreenRant, Bertie Gregory, the National Geographic Explorer and host of the series, divulged two remarkable tales to us: a stunning penguin ability that viewers missed out on – as well as the innovative technology and cleverness behind the making of the Secrets of the Penguins program.

During our journey, I had the pleasure of meeting Emeritus Professor John Davenport DSc FRSE, a scientist instrumental in developing a significant theory regarding Emperor Penguins. He shared fascinating insights about the unexpected origins of this discovery that could reshape our understanding not only of penguins but also marine engineering.

The Penguin Superpower We Didn’t See

There’s Another Secret of the Penguins

In Antarctica, Bertie Gregory spent approximately two and a half months filming, followed by 274 days of work by a three-person team, resulting in numerous breathtaking scenes during the making of Secrets of the Penguins. However, as Gregory told me over Zoom while I was on the National Geographic Endeavour II, sailing through the Galapagos Islands in search of penguins, not every awe-inspiring moment made it into the final storyline.

Gregory mentioned there were numerous cherished moments left unused,” he said. “It would be fantastic if we could transform these into a unique production, similar to a penguin special, which is an idea we’re currently exploring for the future.

In the days ahead, it’s possible we might observe emperor penguins employing an exceptional method called “air lubrication” to propel themselves from the ocean and onto steep ice cliffs. At first sight, penguins floating on the water surface post-fishing trip may appear to be relaxing; however, as Gregory pointed out during our conversation, their actions are much more deliberate.

As an enthusiast, I can tell you, I’ve noticed these creatures often appear to be grooming on the water surface, running their beaks through their plumage. But it turns out that wasn’t mere relaxation; they were actually inflating their feathers with air!

Penguins capture air pockets between their feathers by fluffing them up. Subsequently, their outer feathers interlock, locking in the air. Prior to taking off, penguins dive significantly deep, sometimes reaching 90 feet underwater, and squeeze their feathers, expelling the trapped air forcefully at the ideal instant, creating a tunnel of bubbles around their bodies.

Gregory mentioned, “We captured numerous fascinating perspectives with ultra-slow motion cameras during filming.” He found it quite thrilling, but unfortunately, it didn’t align with the movie. Thus, it will be saved for a future project.

In a study titled “Drag reduction by air release boosts rapid ascent in jumping emperor penguins—a new theory“, published in Marine Ecology Progress Series, it’s explained how a bubble layer formed beneath these penguins significantly cuts down drag, effectively doubling their swimming speed from approximately 2 meters per second during regular swimming to an average of 5.3 meters per second when they jump. Remarkably, some emperor penguins have been recorded reaching speeds as high as 8.2 meters per second, setting a new record for their species.

Inside the Air Lubrication Breakthrough

As a devoted cinephile, let me share an intriguing tale from the world of science. Back in 2011, I had the privilege of connecting with Professor John Davenport and his team, who ignited a spark of curiosity within me when they proposed a groundbreaking theory about a penguin’s extraordinary ability. This conversation, as ordinary as it may seem, was the catalyst for a significant scientific discovery.

According to Davenport, the idea for the paper on the air lubrication hypothesis originated from a chat during a beer break at a scientific conference I hosted in Cork back in 2006.

A colleague in ecology, Roger Hughes, spotted penguins leaving bubbles underwater while watching clips from the BBC’s Blue Planet show. Upon closer examination by marine physiologist and ex-competitive swimmer Davenport, frame by frame, something truly amazing was uncovered in the footage.

Instead of emerging from their beaks, the bubbles were seeping right from the penguins’ feathers, hinting at an intriguing and unusual adaptation: trapping air, releasing it swiftly, and propelling themselves using the tunnel of bubbles to leap out of the water. This observation reminded Davenport of air lubrication, he explains, as it shares similarities with technologies utilized by Japanese engineers to minimize drag on ships and experimental Soviet torpedoes.

Instead of adjusting their feathers passively like most birds do, penguins have the ability to actively manipulate their feathers. They can fluff up their feathers to trap air inside and compress them to release it when necessary. Additionally, their preen oil helps maintain the delicate layers of air essential for this technique’s effectiveness.

Davenport’s team discovered in their examination of BBC footage that penguins rapidly climbing produced a trail of bubbles similar to jet streams behind airplanes, with no swiftly ascending penguins lacking this bubble trail. Moreover, it’s plausible that there are additional advantages beyond increased speed: the air lubrication could potentially minimize underwater noise as well, making these birds less noticeable to predators such as killer whales.

Davenport remarked, ‘It’s an incredible demonstration of nature’s own engineering at work,’ echoing what Bertie shared with me.

The Drone, the Cliff, and the Heated Gloves

There are secrets to HOW Secrets of the Penguins is made too!

Although not all groundbreaking science scenes were included in the final series, some remarkable shots – such as the memorable leap of emperor penguin chicks from towering ice cliffs in “Secrets of the Penguins”, for instance – were made possible due to advanced technology and a touch of cold-fingered ingenuity.

During my conversation with Bertie Gregory, I inquired about the technology employed by him and the Talesmith crew during filming. According to him, one of the most significant technological advancements used was a drone.

Improvements in battery duration enabled drones to stay aloft for extended periods, enabling Gregory and his team of Secrets of the Penguins documentarians to observe animal actions at a leisurely pace as they unfolded organically. Additionally, innovative high-powered zoom lenses allowed the crew to maintain a greater distance from delicate wildlife, minimizing disturbance and recording genuine, untouched moments.

We captured the extraordinary footage of emperor penguin chicks leaping from a towering ice precipice thanks solely to recent technological advancements. Due to the hazardous nature of their location, it wasn’t safe for us to approach them directly. Thus, the entire sequence was filmed using a drone.

In the harsh Antarctic cold ranging from -30 to -40 degrees Celsius, managing drone operations wasn’t a straightforward task. As Gregory stated, “The main challenge was staying warm, but operating the drone requires fine motor control, so we couldn’t use bulky gloves.

The solution? Heated gloves wired to their camera batteries.

By slipping my hands into the specially designed heated gloves, I’d be able to keep them cozy while operating the drone with precision. This process, which required us to endure long hours and even days in the cold, was made possible only by the development of these innovative gloves.

More Secrets of the Penguins Still to Come?

No ‘Secrets Of’ docuseries has received a second season (yet).

In terms of originality, exploration, and perseverance, Secrets of the Penguins is bursting with it. If Bertie Gregory’s plans come to fruition, viewers could potentially revisit some of these elusive scenes again.

He playfully hinted that it would be great if we could somehow create something similar to a ‘penguin special.’ So far, none of James Cameron’s ‘Secrets Of’ series for National Geographic have had traditional sequels or renewals, but the unused footage collected worldwide over two years could potentially be utilized in other Nat Geo productions.

The show titled “The Mysteries Unveiled: Penguins” made its debut on National Geographic and can now be streamed on both Hulu and Disney+.

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2025-05-02 15:29

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