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Scientists claim to have successfully ‘conversed’ with a whale (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Scientists at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Seti) in the US claim to have conversed with a humpback whale in Alaska as a proxy for communicating with aliens.

...

They found that while most of the whales ignored the recorded calls, one of them – a female named Twain – circled the scientists’ boat, mimicking the noises for about 20 minutes.

Researchers are not entirely sure what the recorded call meant, but suspect it is a kind of “contact call” that whales use to call each other.

“It might have just been us saying hello, and her responding hello, and us saying hello again,” Dr Walker explained.

“We believe this is the first such communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in the humpback ‘language,’” study lead author Brenda McCowan said in a statement.

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[–] GrymEdm 17 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

Here's a great 6-minute video about swimming with sperm whales. In addition to their clicks being loud enough to kill you (although they've never done that as far as we know), researchers think they are potentially a more sophisticated form of communication than any human language. Other research shows potential dialects and or even cultures.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

In addition to their clicks being loud enough to kill you

I am validated in my hatred/fear of the ocean at least twice a year.

[–] Haggunenons 10 points 9 months ago (2 children)

They could do it in theory, but so far as we know, they have never decided to kill someone with their clicks.

[–] GrymEdm 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

That's a good point that I knew, but overlooked including. I'll edit that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

That's their secret dark souls move when you finally get comfortable with their moveset.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Yep! They can generate sound pressure up to 233 dB. That would blow out your eardrums and vibrate your insides to mush.

For reference, a jet taking off is around 130 dB at around 300 meters away. 233 dB is literally over 10 million times louder.

[–] Haggunenons 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

We've got a community specifically on this and other types of bioacoustics.

[email protected]

[–] GrymEdm 5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I'll definitely check it out! Edit: Now I know that elephants name each other.

[–] Haggunenons 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yes! That's one of cooler new discoveries in the world of animal communication. It's such an exciting time for bioacoustics with all the recent advancements in AI, I think there's going to be quite a few big discoveries in the coming years.

[–] GrymEdm 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Just as long as we never figure out how to talk to our pets. Ignorance is bliss and I'm more likely to be annoyed if I can meaningfully converse with a Labrador about when to go for walks.