Scientists have recently discovered a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom that sheds light on non-human intelligence and the search for intelligent life beyond Earth.

The groundbreaking finding, led by researchers at the SETI Institute in collaboration with the University of California at Davis, involves humpback whales creating large bubble rings. These bubble rings, similar to smoke rings made by humans, are produced by the whales during interactions with people.

While this behavior has been observed before, it has not been extensively studied until now. Researchers believe that these bubble rings could serve as a unique form of communication between different species.

Bubbling Bursts of Communication?

Humpback whales have been known to use bursts of bubbles in various situations such as hunting and mating. Males often release trails of bubbles while accompanying females during mating.

In this recent discovery, the WhaleSETI team observed humpback whales creating bubble rings during friendly encounters with humans. This behavior is part of a broader research effort to understand humpback whale communication and its implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.

The team's work aims to contribute valuable data to Drake's Equation Factor Fi, which deals with the emergence of intelligent life on planets with life.

Searching for Extraterrestrials

Dr. Laurance Doyle, a scientist at the SETI Institute, noted that the curious behavior of humpback whales supports the idea that intelligent beings, whether on Earth or elsewhere, may seek to communicate with other forms of intelligence.

Dr. Fred Sharpe, co-lead author of the study, highlighted the unique characteristics of humpback whales that make them ideal subjects for SETI research. These include their use of bubble rings as tools, diverse acoustic abilities, and complex social structures underwater.

The team observed multiple instances of humpback whales producing bubble rings, indicating a potential interest in interacting with humans. This behavior reflects the whales' inquisitive and friendly nature towards humans.

Earthly Proxies for Extraterrestrial Studies

The WhaleSETI team's research draws parallels to studies of extreme environments on Earth as proxies for unexplored locations in space. By studying non-human communication in aquatic species, researchers can gain insights into what signals from extraterrestrial beings might look like.

Previous attempts to communicate with humpback whales, such as using recordings of whale vocalizations, have shown positive responses from the animals. The team's latest research paper, 'Humpback Whales Blow Poloidal Vortex Bubble Rings,' was published in Marine Mammal Science on May 15, 2025.