### Humpback Whales Exhibit Unprecedented 'Smoke' Ring Behavior Towards Humans

In an astonishing discovery, scientists have recorded humpback whales engaging in an unprecedented behavior: blowing bubble rings towards humans. This newly documented activity, which appears to be playful or communicative, has never before been observed and adds a fascinating new dimension to the study of these marine giants.

The research, published in the journal Marine Mammal Science, describes encounters where humpback whales approached swimmers or boats and created stable bubble rings reminiscent of smoke rings. These floating rings may represent a novel form of non-human expression or curiosity, suggesting a new way that these whales might interact with humans.

The study, led by a collaboration between the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute and the University of California, identified a total of 12 episodes involving 11 individual whales across different populations globally. During these encounters, the whales released a series of 39 bubble rings, signaling a potentially playful interaction or an attempt to engage with their human observers.

“Humpback whales live in complex societies, are acoustically diverse, use bubble tools and assist other species being harassed by predators," says Dr. Fred Sharpe, one of the study’s co-authors. "Now we show they are blowing bubble rings in our direction in an apparent attempt to playfully interact, observe our response, and/or engage in some form of communication."

Previously, it was known that humpback whales use bubbles strategically, such as creating bubble nets to herd fish or bubble trails in competitive displays for mates. However, this newly observed behavior seems unrelated to feeding or competition, pointing instead to an element of playfulness or direct engagement with humans.

Co-lead author Jodi Frediani adds, "Humpback whales often exhibit inquisitive, friendly behavior towards boats and human swimmers. We've now documented a dozen whales from different populations around the world that voluntarily approached boats and swimmers, blowing bubble rings during these episodes of curious behavior."

The implications of these findings extend beyond understanding whale behavior. The WhaleSETI project, associated with this study, seeks to explore non-human intelligence as a model for recognizing potential signals from extraterrestrial life. By understanding how intelligent aquatic beings like humpback whales express curiosity, researchers believe that methods used to detect alien intelligence can be refined.

Dr. Laurance Doyle, a SETI Institute scientist and co-author of the paper, emphasizes, "An important assumption of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is that such beings, if they exist, would be interested in making contact and thus target human receivers. The independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales supports this assumption."

This groundbreaking research opens new avenues in marine biology and astrobiology, highlighting the complex and intriguing behaviors of one of Earth’s largest inhabitants, and possibly providing clues for the search for intelligent life beyond our planet.