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Researchers have identified the origin of an unusual mode of communication in the sea, which might assist them in pinpointing locations. extraterrestrial life in space .
Scientists from the SETI Institute (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) disclosed that substantial 'smoke ring-shaped' plumes are emanating from beneath the water surface. were fashioned by humpback whales , which researchers think is how they greet people close by.
For the first time, researchers have observed whales producing distinctive circles during their interactions with humans in nature. The SETI group indicated that this behavior signifies a deliberate effort to capture human attention—much like greeting us.
So far, these bubble rings have only been observed as humpback whales gather their food and when males create such formations to impress potential mates.
Scientists suggest that whales might have been attempting to converse with humans for decades, though this occurrence has only recently come under scrutiny.
The team mentioned that these bubble rings might assist researchers in fine-tuning their exploration efforts for an alien Intelligence within the cosmos, unlocking a pathway to identifying peculiar signals from space that we typically wouldn’t consider as being intended for humankind.
Dr Fred Sharpe, who co-led the study from the University of California-Davis, stated: "The dolphins appear to be intentionally creating bubble rings directed towards us as though they want to playfully socialize, gauge our reaction, and/or communicate with us."
Currently, the institute’s WhaleSETI team is investigating whether this might indicate that intelligent sea creatures are attempting to communicate. Speak to people as though extraterrestrial beings from a far-off world were attempting to communicate with Earth. .
The SETI Institute is a nonprofit research body focused on looking for intelligent alien life and examining how life begins and evolves in our cosmos .
Researchers examined 12 instances of bubble rings involving 11 distinct humpback whales from 2019 to 2023 in their natural habitat.
These infrequent accounts were shared by naturalists, amateur scientists, and researchers who disclosed their observations through social media posts, interview conversations, or presentations at scientific gatherings.
Altogether, observers detected 39 bubble rings using whale-watching boats, research vessels, private crafts, and aircraft.
The study, published in Marine Mammal Science , discovered that bubble rings were generated primarily for three reasons: eating, relaxing, and exploring – with exploration being the most frequent reason.
Nine times, humpback whales created bubble rings close to both vessels and people swimming.
In these instances, the whales were regularly observed moving towards vessels and humans in the water without showing any aggressive behavior, tail slapping and expelling water from their blowholes.
The scientists indicated that this behavior clearly showed the humpback whales were at ease and attempting to engage playfully, which allowed them to feel secure enough to communicate with people nearby.
They usually release bubble rings through their blowholes that measure between six to ten feet across, these rise vertically and resemble a smoke ring as they reach the sea’s surface.
The rings would frequently be directed directly at people and accompanied by other lighthearted activities such as swimming around the boats or popping up near bathers.
The humpback whales did not display signs of anger or fear and stayed around after releasing the bubble ring, seemingly awaiting some kind of response from the humans.
Researchers determined that these rings could potentially serve as whales' method of communicating, "Hello, shall we converse?" or perhaps they use them to observe our reactions, similar to how a child blows bubbles to grab our focus.
The SETI group mentioned that this previously unobserved conduct exhibited by humpback whales strengthens the belief that advanced beings from outer space could potentially attempt communication with us as well.
The SETI Institute scientist and co-author of the study, Dr. Laurance Doyle, stated, "This significant presumption is undoubtedly backed by the separate development of inquisitive behaviors observed in humpback whales."
Through examining these whales and their emerging engagements with humans as a model for non-human intellect, WhaleSETI researchers are developing methods to detect and interpret possible signals encountered in outer space.
The institution proposed that bubble rings might represent a conscious effort by whales to communicate with humans they viewed as friendly, rather than mere random play.
Based on SETI, this approach mirrors what extraterrestrials could do to aim signals at satellite receptors on our planet if they intended to communicate with us.
This isn’t the first occasion where the WhaleSETI team has linked the actions of humpback whales to extraterrestrials.
In 2023, Scientists had a 20-minute "dialogue" with a humpback whale named Twain off the coast of Alaska.
They played whale sounds for her, and Twain replied with comparable vocalizations, synchronizing them as though they were having an exchange.
The research indicated that whales have the ability to deliberately engage with people, assisting SETI researchers in comprehending potential extraterrestrial intelligences they might encounter in space.
'Through incorporating our research within the wider framework of Drake’s Equation, we aim to deepen our comprehension of the elements affecting the development of communicative intelligence in alien civilizations,' said the WhaleSETI group. in a statement .
The Drake Equation is a mathematical expression formulated in 1961 designed to calculate the potential quantity of advanced alien societies within our Milky Way galaxy capable of communicating with humanity and could be discernible via emissions such as radio waves.
If whales demonstrate that curiosity and amicable interactions are crucial for communication, this implies that extraterrestrial civilizations may require similar attributes to generate discernible signals. This could alter the figures within Drake’s Equation and direct the efforts of SETI in searching for life elsewhere in the cosmos.
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