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New conversations with Whales could help us talk to aliens, scientists say Credits: Social Media
By Kieran Galpin

New conversations with Whales could help us talk to aliens, scientists say

By Kieran Galpin

In a first for humans, scientists have managed to communicate with Whales in a way that could one day benefit our communication with aliens and other extraterrestrial life.�

When humans inevitably reach the stars and meet little green men, one of the many hurdles well have to overcome is the language barrier. Considering we struggle to effectively communicate with one another sometimes, this might prove an issue. But, to bridge that gap, scientists have turned to the aliens of the ocean.�

BRAZIL-ANIMAL-WHALE
In this aerial view, a humpback whale swims at Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 29, 2023. From July to October, humpback whales reach the warm waters of Brazil’s Atlantic coast, where they were born, to start their mating ritual. (Photo by Florian PLAUCHEUR / AFP) (Photo by FLORIAN PLAUCHEUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Twain the whale is apparently close to an alien

Researchers from the SETI Institute travelled to southeast Alaska where they kind of chatted with a 38-year-old Humpback whale called Twain.�

While talking with whales is undeniably cool, the end goal is to develop methods of communicating with intelligent forms of life. This whale research could, in theory, pave the way for talking with aliens. No doubt we humans will want to open a Starbucks or an Apple store on Pluto.�

The researchers chose whales because of their high intelligence and aptitude for complicated, intricate communication.�

Dr Fred Sharpe explained: Humpback whales are extremely intelligent, have complex social systems, make tools – nets out of bubbles to catch fish – and communicate extensively with both songs and social calls.

How could they talk to whales?

Melting world of polar bears: Arctic
SVALBARD AND JAN MAYEN – JULY 09: A view of humpback whale as the Turkish scientists observe and report on the habitats of polar creatures throughout the cruise during the expedition in Svalbard and Jan Mayen, on July 09, 2023. Under the responsibility of the Turkish Presidency and Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology, with the coordination of TUBITAK MAM Polar Research Institute (KARE), 11 scientists carried out the 3rd National Arctic Scientific Research Expedition, within the scope of the Turkish Naval Forces Command, the Turkish General Directorate of Meteorology, Anadolu Agency, research institutes, universities and bilateral cooperation. While the Arctic region remains one of the most profoundly impacted by global climate change due to its geographical location, maritime activities, trade routes, overfishing, mining, oil and gas exploration, human-driven pollutants, and the proliferation of plastic in ocean waters, it persists in experiencing rapid warming and melting. Projections indicate that polar bears, categorized as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s endangered species list and recognized as the world’s largest land carnivores, will confront habitat loss and the threat of extinction should the ongoing Arctic melt persist. (Photo by Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In Alaska, the research team broadcast a prerecorded message known as whup/throp through underwater speakers. In response, Twain swam up to the boat and replied with a greeting of her own!

Most interestingly, the team, led by Dr Brenda McCowan of UC Davis, found that Twain was altering the frequency of her call when responding, meaning that she was actively communicating in her own form of language. 

‘We believe this is the first such communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in the humpback language,  McCowan explained. 

While we dont have a Google Translate for whales just yet, this is technically the first active conversation between our species and theirs.