Humpback whales engage in playful interactions with humans, a revelation by experts.
Humpback whales have been getting frisky with humans, according to a group of researchers who've been studying the marine mammal's behavior.
A pack of scientists from the SETI Institute — a cool, tech-savvy org based in Silicon Valley — have noticed humpback whales blowing massive bubble rings, much like the ones you can make with smoke. But these aren't your average, run-of-the-mill bubbles — they're produced during friendly encounters with humans. The team shared their findings in a journal called Marine Mammal Science last month.
Now, you might be thinking, "Whales making bubbles? Big deal." But this behavior could suggest playtime or communication, the researchers said.
Humpback whales are no strangers to bubble fun — they use bubbles to round up their prey and male whales have been spotted creating bubble trails or bursts to impress the ladies. But this new observation of whales producing bubbles during friendly hangs with humans could be part of a larger effort to study non-human minds.
You might be wondering, "Why the heck does studying whale brains help us find aliens?" Well, researchers hope understanding intelligent, non-terrestrial (that means not earth-based) communication systems will help them sift through cosmic signals for signs of extraterrestrial life.
According to Laurance Doyle, a SETI Institute scientist and co-author on the paper, "Humpback whales' curious behavior toward humans certainly supports the idea that extraterrestrial intelligence might be interested in making contact."
The scientists analyzed 12 bubble ring-making incidents from 39 rings created by 11 individual whales. They found that the whales seem to be blowing bubbles in our direction, not just because they want to play but to check out our reactions and engage in some form of communication.
"These marine giants live in complex societies, communicate using different sounds, and even help out other species," Fred Sharpe, a co-author of the paper and a legacy board member of the Alaska Whale Foundation, explained.
Jodi Frediani, a marine wildlife photographer and co-author, added that humpback whales often show friendly curiosity towards humans and boats. In fact, they've identified more than a dozen whales from different populations who have approached boats and swimmers, eagerly making bubbles.
Scientists have been keen on understanding intelligent marine mammals like whales and dolphins for decades. In 2021, for example, a group from the SETI Institute even had a chat with a humpback whale named Twain by piping whale calls through an underwater speaker!
So, it's a wild, wide ocean out there, full of mysteries waiting to be unfurled. These foo-er..whales are definitely adding to the fun. Keep on diving, researchers! We can't wait to see what else you find!
- The SETI Institute, an international research organization known for its work in technology and science, has been studying the behavior of humpback whales, particularly their production of large bubble rings.
- These bubble rings, produced during friendly encounters with humans, could signify playtime or communication, according to the team of scientists from the SETI Institute.
- The study of humpback whales' behavior, as part of the larger effort to understand intelligent, non-terrestrial communication systems, could potentially help in finding signs of extraterrestrial life.
- Humpback whales' curious behavior towards humans, as observed by the SETI Institute, suggests that they may be blowing bubbles not just to play but to engage in some form of communication, adding to the ongoing exploration of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and environmental-science within the marine world.
