Researchers from the SETI Institute and University of California at Davis have captured images of 11 humpback whales blowing bubble rings during friendly interactions with humans. The team observed this behavior in 12 different instances across 4 locations, including Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Mo’orea, and the U.S. Atlantic coast.
The scientists believe that these large bubble rings may represent a novel form of non-human expression or curiosity, possibly serving as a form of play or communication. Contrary to previous observations, where humpback whales used bubbles for hunting or dominance displays, this new behavior suggests a more social purpose.
According to Dr. Laurance Doyle, SETI Institute scientist and co-author, the discovery supports their mission to study non-human intelligence in search for extraterrestrial life. The researchers found that 10 out of 12 episodes of bubble ring production occurred near humans or swimmers, while six had multiple whales present. No signs of aggression were reported during these events, indicating a relaxed and curious state among the whales.
This breakthrough contributes to the SETI Institute’s study on non-human intelligence, which may shed light on the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth.
Source: https://petapixel.com/2025/06/09/scientists-photograph-humpback-whales-blowing-bubble-rings-to-speak-to-humans