Humpback Whales May Be Attempting Human Communication with Bubble Rings
Scientists Observe Complex Behavior Suggesting Intentional Interaction
New research reveals that humpback whales are creating and manipulating bubble rings not just for hunting, but potentially as a way to communicate with humans during friendly encounters, adding another layer to our understanding of these intelligent marine mammals.
Intriguing Bubble Ring Behavior
Researchers have documented humpback whales producing spinning, air-infused vortices—roughly a metre in diameter—that resemble “giant smoke rings.” These aren’t simply byproducts of feeding or competition for mates, behaviors for which bubble use is already known. Laurance Doyle, from the SETI Institute, noted, “This important assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behaviour in humpback whales.”
The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, analyzed 12 incidents involving 11 individual whales, categorizing them by age—yearlings, subadults (4-6 years old), and adults. In many cases, the whales were motionless or moving slowly while creating the rings, with their blowholes upright.
A Potential Bridge to Interspecies Understanding
Jodi Frediani, another author of the study, explained, “We’ve now located a dozen whales from populations around the world, the majority of which have voluntarily approached boats and swimmers blowing bubble rings during these episodes of curious behaviour.”
Researchers observed that the whales weren’t displaying aggressive behavior and, in most instances, were alone when creating the rings, suggesting the intended recipient wasn’t another whale.
This research is particularly intriguing given the growing field of studying animal intelligence as a proxy for understanding potential extraterrestrial communication. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), humpback whale populations in the North Pacific have rebounded from near extinction, increasing by approximately 2.5% per year since the 1970s, demonstrating their resilience and capacity for complex social behaviors. NOAA Humpback Whale Explainer
Future Research Needed
The scientists emphasize that further investigation is crucial to systematically study bubble ring production and determine the conditions under which whales consistently exhibit this behavior. Understanding the nuances of this interaction could provide valuable insights into the cognitive abilities of humpback whales and potentially unlock new avenues for interspecies communication.