WhaleSETI: Curious Humpback Whales Approach Humans and Blow Bubble “Smoke” Rings
www.seti.org
June 5, 2025, Mountain View, CA -- A team of scientists from the SETI Institute and the University of California at Davis documented, for the first time, humpback whales producing large bubble rings, like a human smoker blowing smoke rings, during friendly interactions with humans. This previously little studied behavior may represent play or communication. Humpback whales are already known for using bubbles to corral prey and creating bubble trails and bursts when competing to escort a female whale.
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The original was posted on /r/science by /u/mvea on 2025-06-08 12:06:02+00:00.

Original Title: Scientists from SETI document for the first time humpback whales producing large bubble rings during interactions with humans. This may represent play or communication, and contributes to SETI’s broader goal of studying non-human intelligence to aid in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.