A conversation between scientists and the humpback whale may bring us closer to space... How so?

2023-12-20 2023-12-20T10:58:58Z

ArabiaWeather - In an unparalleled achievement, scientists succeeded in having a unique conversation with the "humpback whale" , where they were able to communicate in its special language, an achievement that opens a new horizon for communication between humans and marine organisms, and in a recent study published in the journal "PeerJ", cooperation Scientists from UC Davis, the Alaska Whale Foundation, and SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) are exploring opportunities to communicate with whales.

The experiment, which can be described as historic, was successful, as a 20-minute conversation was conducted with a humpback whale named “Twin”, using their unique language.

Scientists use 'contact calls' to communicate with whales

A team of scientists led a boat cruise off the coast of Alaska, where they carried out what are known as "contact calls" in the ocean, with the aim of checking whether any whales would respond to this unique marine call.

Communication calls in the world of whales are similar to human greetings, as they are used to call other whales or to inform each other of their whereabouts. According to the study’s lead author, Professor Brenda McEwan of the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, these calls are...

"One of the most common social signals within the repertoire of humpback whales' communicative vocalizations."

Historic call... A dialogue between a human and a humpback whale called “Twin”

In an unparalleled adventure, scientists chased Twain's whale off the coast of Alaska, where they played what is known as a "contact call" in the ocean with the aim of examining the whales' response. In exciting details, Twain swam towards the boat and circled around it, in response to the contact calls made by the scientists. .

Within 20 minutes , the scientists made the same call 36 times at varying intervals, with Twain responding each time. Brenda McCowan, a professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, explained:

“Twain’s communication on all these occasions indicates an intentional interaction.”

Fred Sharp , principal investigator at the Alaska Whale Foundation, confirmed that they definitely felt like they "heard" Twain, stressing the need to comply with National Marine Fisheries Service permits. In a statement, McEwan noted that this dialogue may be "the first communication exchange of its kind between humans and whales." "Humpback in the language of humpback whales."

The calls came from a group of whales that included Twain, which indicates the possibility of Twain responding to her own signals.

Contact with alien civilizations: Twain study hints at possible alien behavior

Communicating with the humpback whale "Twin" opens new horizons for understanding how to communicate with alien civilizations. In his statements, Lawrence Doyle, the lead researcher, pointed out that Twin's behavior reflects the potential interest of aliens in making contact and communicating with other civilizations, which opens the door to a deeper understanding of the possibility Communication with aliens.

The SETI team is working in collaboration with whale and animal experts to develop smart filters to search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In this context, Doyle said that understanding what they are looking for is vital, as smart filters can identify intelligent signals from space and determine the optimal methods for possible communication with an extraterrestrial life. .

Brenda McCowan, a professor at the University of California, Davis, indicated that their study also aims to understand possible forms of alien intelligence, as it will not be completely identical to human intelligence. Scientists hope to expand the scope of studies to explore the behavior of other intelligent animals on Earth, which may contribute to deepening Our understanding of communication with alien civilizations.