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Scientists have found the source of a strange form of communication in the ocean that they say could help them locate extraterrestrial life in space.
Researchers from the SETI Institute (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) revealed that large ‘smoke ring-like’ bubbles coming from underwater were created by humpback whales, which researchers believe is their way of greeting nearby humans.
It’s the first time scientists have seen whales sending out these unique rings while interacting with people in the wild, and the SETI team said they show an intentional attempt to get the attention of humans – just like saying hello.
Until now, the bubble rings have only been seen while humpbacks were gathering prey and when males were making a trail of bubble rings to attract a mate.
Researchers said it’s quite possible whales have been trying to communicate with people for years but the phenomenon hasn’t been studied until now.
The team added that these bubble rings could help researchers refine their search for an alien intelligence in the cosmos, opening a door to spotting unusual signals from space that we normally wouldn’t think are meant for humans.
Study co-lead author Dr Fred Sharpe from the University of California-Davis said: ‘They are blowing bubble rings in our direction in an apparent attempt to playfully interact, observe our response, and/or engage in some form of communication.’
Now, the institute’s WhaleSETI team is studying if this could be a sign that intelligent marine animals are trying to talk to humans, in the same way that aliens from a distant ocean may try to contact Earth.
Researchers from the SETI Institute and the University of California-Davis revealed that large ‘smoke ring-like’ bubbles coming from underwater were created by humpback whales, not aliens
Humpback whales have never been seen making these bubble rings while interacting with humans until 2019, when this new study began documenting multiple cases
The SETI Institute is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to searching for extraterrestrial intelligence and studying the origins and nature of life in the universe.
Scientists analyzed 12 bubble ring episodes that involved 11 different humpback whales between 2019 and 2023 in the wild.
These rare reports came from naturalists, citizen scientists, and researchers who revealed what they saw on social media, during interviews, or at scientific conferences.
In total, the witnesses spotted 39 bubble rings from whale-watching boats, research vessels, private ships, and airplanes.
The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, found that bubble rings were produced in three main contexts: feeding, resting, and curiosity – which was the most common purpose.
There were nine instances of humpback whales blowing bubble rings near boats and swimmers.
The whales in these cases were consistently seen approaching boats and people in the water without any signs of aggression, splashing their tails and spraying water out of their blowholes.
The researchers said this was a clear sign that the humpbacks were relaxed and trying to be playful, leading them to feel comfortable communicating with the humans near them.
SETI researchers documented 12 cases of humpback whale bubble ring, with 9 of them occurring while whales were playfully interacting with people on boats or swimming nearby
They typically let out bubble rings from their blowholes that were six to 10 feet in diameter, which floated straight up and look like a smoke ring when they reached the ocean surface.
The rings were often aimed right at humans and were paired with other playful behaviors like circling the boats or peeking at swimmers.
The humpbacks didn’t show anger or fear and lingered after sending out the bubble ring, almost as if waiting for the people to “answer” their greeting.
Scientists concluded that these rings might be a whale’s way of saying, “Hey, let’s chat!” or play a game to see how we react, much like a child blowing bubbles to get our attention.
The team from SETI said this never-before-seen behavior among humpback whales further supports the assumption that intelligent extraterrestrial life might also seek contact with humans.
SETI Institute scientist and study co-author Dr Laurance Doyle said: ‘This important assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales.’
Humpback whales have been a constant resource in SETI’s search for alien life, with researchers using them as a model of intelligent, non-human creatures which may be living on distant ocean worlds
By studying these whales and their new interactions with people as an example of non-human intelligence, WhaleSETI researchers are creating ways of finding and translating potential signals found in space.
The institute suggested that bubble rings could be a deliberate attempt by whales to talk with humans they considered peaceful, not just aimless play.
According to SETI, this would mimic how extraterrestrials might target satellite receivers on Earth if they wanted to contact humanity.
This isn’t the first time the WhaleSETI team has connected the behavior of humpbacks to aliens.
In 2023, scientists engaged in a 20-minute ‘conversation’ with a humpback whale named Twain in Alaska.
They played whale calls for her and Twain responded with similar calls, matching the timing like a back-and-forth chat.
That study showed whales can intentionally interact with humans, helping SETI scientists understand the non-human intelligences they may find in space.
‘By integrating our findings into the broader context of Drake’s Equation, we aspire to advance our understanding of the factors influencing the emergence of communicative intelligence in extraterrestrial civilizations,’ the WhaleSETI team explained in a statement.
Drake’s Equation is a mathematical formula created in 1961 to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy that can communicate with humans and might be detectable through their signals, like radio waves.
If whales show that curiosity and friendly interactions are key to communication, it suggests alien civilizations might also need these traits to develop detectable signals, influencing the numbers in Drake’s Equation and guiding SETI’s search for life beyond Earth.
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