Humpback whales are well known for their charming songs. These sequences of complex cries and howls among other noises often continue for hours. Scientists have been studying their meanings for years in hopes of communicating with them. Scientists believe that the 20 minute communication held with the humpback whale might help them communicate with extraterrestrials.
Whales are social creatures which use a variety of different noises to communicate. The three main types of sounds they make are whistles, pulsed calls and clicks. In 2021 off the coast of south-east Alaska a team of scientists played a recording of a humpback whale greeting call to which was heard by a female humpback known as “Twain” and responded to. Twain circled the ship making a total of 36 calls before swimming away. To our ears this greeting call can be described as a “whup” sound and is believed to be a way of saying “I am here.”
How exactly did these scientists go about communicating with whales in the first place? With the use of underwater microphones called hydrophones they were able to gain access to the animals’ soundscapes as the microphones are able to detect and record sounds in the ocean from all directions. There is also the use of artificial sounds developed with the use of AI to create a synthetic “whup”. This isn’t just planned to be used to emulate a humpbacks voice but to be used to communicate with the entirety of the animal kingdom.
Understanding how whales communicate have other benefits such as enhancing conservation efforts by creating a quieter and safer ocean for them to live in. Whales are known to have complex social lives and can learn from each other just like we do. With this knowledge in mind it gives scientists come up with better ways to look after them.
In conclusion by studying humpback whale songs scientists are able to mimic their calls to achieve communication. This research also aids in protecting these animals by encouraging a quieter ocean and also help to improve our understanding of complex animal communications which may help with extraterrestrial dialogue.
By Kobe Charles
"My name is Kobe Charles and I am 22 years old. I have a strong love of reading and I am always eager to learn something new. I’m currently enrolled at UWI Mona and pursuing a degree in Software Engineering."
References
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2021). Humpback whales: Facts about their songs and behaviors. Retrieved from https://www.noaa.gov
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