For the first time, scientists have documented a unique behavior in the animal kingdom that provides new insights into non-human intelligence and potential clues in the search for intelligent life from other worlds.
The intriguing discovery, made by scientists with the SETI Institute in collaboration with scientists at the University of California at Davis, involves large bubble rings produced by humpback whales. These bubble rings are not unlike the smoke rings produced by tobacco enthusiasts, which the cetaceans make while interacting with humans.
Although known from past observations, the researchers say this behavior, which had never been significantly studied until now, could represent a unique form of interspecies communication.
Bubbling Bursts of Communication?
In the past, humpback whales have been observed using bursts of bubbles under a range of different circumstances, including corralling prey and during mating, when males produce trails of bubbles while escorting females.
In the recently documented behavior, researchers with the WhaleSETI team say humpback whales also generate these bubble rings while interacting with humans during friendly encounters.
Hellbound and Down 