Non-human communication: first communication with a humpback whale

2023-12-20 02:51:44

Researchers have managed to communicate with a humpback whale in its language, which might represent a first of its kind.

A team of scientists from the SETI Institute, University of California Davis and the Alaska Whale Foundation played a recording of a humpback whale in the water through an underwater speaker, and a female humpback whale named Twain approached, tracing circles around the boat, responding to the recording.

This was reported by the SETI Institute last week in a press release.

“We believe this is the first communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in their own language,” said Dr. Brenda McCowan, one of the authors and a fellow at UC Davis.

The SETI team was studying the communication systems of humpback whales with the aim of developing filters for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence [non-humaine].

“Humpback whales are extremely intelligent, have complex social systems, create tools and communicate extensively through melodies and social calls,” added co-author Dr. Fred Sharpe of the Alaska Whale Foundation.

During the 20-minute exchange, Twain interacted with every signal on the recording.

“Because of current limitations in technology, an important assumption in the search for non-human intelligence is that extraterrestrial beings will be interested in establishing contact and will thus target human receptors. This hypothesis is certainly supported by the behavior of humpback whales,” explained Dr Laurance Doyle, of the SETI Institute and co-author of the article.

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