How bubble-blowing whales could aid the hunt for aliens
Audio shows humpback whales sharing songs across entire population
Humpback whales have been observed creating bubble rings during friendly interactions with humans, suggesting a possible form of communication.
Researchers analysed 12 incidents involving 11 whales and 39 bubble rings, categorising the whales by age and noting their non-aggressive behaviour.
The whales often exhibited inquisitive behaviour towards boats and swimmers, blowing bubble rings in their direction.
In most cases, the ring-blowing whale was alone, suggesting the intended recipient was not another whale.
Scientists believe studying these whale interactions could provide insights into non-human intelligence and help refine methods for detecting extraterrestrial life.