Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scientists claim they've had a 20 minute conversation with a WHALE - and say it could pave the way for conversations with aliens someday
daily mail ^

Posted on 12/18/2023 9:10:02 AM PST by algore

It might sound like a scene out of Avatar 2.

But scientists claim it's now possible to have a conversation with a whale, following a 20-minute chat with a humpback whale in Southeast Alaska.

A 38-year-old whale named Twain 'spoke' with the researchers from the SETI Institute and UC Davis by responding to a pre-recorded 'contact call'.

This marks the first communication between humans and whales in their own language, according to the team.

Looking ahead, the researchers say the conversation could pave the way for interactions with aliens in the future.

In the study, researchers from SETI studied how whales communicate in the hopes of developing 'intelligence filters' as part of the search for alien life.

The scientists broadcast a type of greeting call called a 'whup/throp' through underwater speakers.

When the call was played through the water, Twain approached the boat and responded with a greeting call of her own.

Importantly, the scientists found that Twain was changing the frequency of her own calls in response to the researchers' broadcast.

According to lead author, Dr Brenda McCowan of UC Davis, this mirroring behaviour shows that the whale was engaging in a type of interactive conversation with the recorded call.

Dr McCowan said: 'We believe this is the first such communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in the humpback "language".'

In their research paper, Dr Brenda and her co-authors suggest that Twain was motivated to reply by 'excitement and possibly the onset of agitation'.

However, they also point out that the kind of 'behavioural synchrony' exhibited by the whale is associated with bonding and group cohesion.

This, according to the authors, suggests that Twain was actively engaged in a communicative exchange.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: cmonahab; contact; medicalmarijuana; seti; soundsfishy; startrek; startrekiv; vulcanmindmeld; whale
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last
To: Blue Collar Christian

“who’s paying for this?”

You REALLY need to ask?


41 posted on 12/18/2023 9:45:21 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: algore

42 posted on 12/18/2023 9:46:04 AM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DesertRhino

I believe that THEY have shone that Border Collies can understand dozens of different words.

The problem is their return vocabulary is limited. Woof, whine and bark.


43 posted on 12/18/2023 9:46:54 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: algore
"Twain responded to a pre-recorded 'contact call'."

"Pre-recorded," huh? That rules out this conversation.


44 posted on 12/18/2023 9:47:59 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore

Chris Christie left the campaign trail to have a 20 minute conversation with scientists?


45 posted on 12/18/2023 9:48:36 AM PST by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore

They recorded a whale’s greeting and played it through speakers. This whale was fooled, and returned the greeting.

Not gonna help when previously unknown life forms land on Earth.


46 posted on 12/18/2023 9:55:01 AM PST by I want the USA back (Democracy dies when you take away from those who work and give to those who won't. Khrushchev.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore

My sister once had an encounter with a clam at the beach. I’ll bet the clam couldn’t get a word in edgewise.


47 posted on 12/18/2023 9:57:54 AM PST by ComputerGuy (Heavily-medicated for your protection)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

The “aliens” are a cover story for what they really are, fallen demonic angels in material form. Why they don’t all look the same? Well, there were different levels of angels. There were not all the same, they didn’t all look the same. When they fell and were warped by their own sinful rebellion, their former angelic appearances were also affected.


48 posted on 12/18/2023 10:02:18 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: algore

Rumor also has the whale saying “Help Me! My name is Jonah and I’m stuck in here.”


49 posted on 12/18/2023 10:02:31 AM PST by Zack Attack (✔)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ComputerGuy

Ifmit was your sister she could have talked clam with it.


50 posted on 12/18/2023 10:02:47 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Laslo Fripp; Red Badger; DesertRhino; Jeff Chandler
Dr Brenda McCowan (left) and Dr Fred Sharpe played a pre-recorded greeting call into the water as Twain came near their research vessel ...

When the call was played through the water, Twain approached the boat and responded with a greeting call of her own.

***

You know what this means??

A 'celebration of life' memorial service for Brenda and Fred will be held on...

51 posted on 12/18/2023 10:03:54 AM PST by Ezekiel (🆘️ "Come fly with US". Ingenuity -- because the Son of David begins with Mars ♂️, aka every man)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: algore
Was one of the researchers named Doolittle, by any chance?


52 posted on 12/18/2023 10:11:30 AM PST by A Formerly Proud Canadian ( Ceterum autem censeo Justinius True-dope-us esse delendam. sic semper tyrannis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore

What did the whale say?

What a crock.

I talked to a deer in my yard yesterday then.
It said snort, grunt, grunt….

I think it was asking about the does that ran through a couple minutes before.
So I pointed and said dattaway….see, I talked to a deer….where’s my grant money?


53 posted on 12/18/2023 10:11:32 AM PST by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore

well, the right people are on the job apparently


54 posted on 12/18/2023 10:21:55 AM PST by MNDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore
Mr Spock communicated with a humpback whale
55 posted on 12/18/2023 10:29:36 AM PST by DFG
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: enumerated; Jeff Chandler
Hahahahaha...reminds me of that Far Side Cartoon:

WHAT WE SAY TO DOGS: Okay, Ginger! I've had it! You stay out of the garbage, Ginger! Do you understand? Stay out of the garbage, or else!

WHAT THEY HEAR: blah blah Ginger! blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah Ginger blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

56 posted on 12/18/2023 10:30:16 AM PST by rlmorel ("The stigma for being wrong is gone, as long as you're wrong for the right side." (Clarice Feldman))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: algore

Honestly, what is so amazing about this? I’ve had the same level of communications with bull elk using my elk bugle.


57 posted on 12/18/2023 10:32:14 AM PST by CommerceComet ("You know why there's a Second Amendment? In case, the government forgets the first." Rush Limbaugh )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: algore

While on Acid, Ozzy Osbourne had a conversation with a horse. That was the last time Ozzy took Acid...


58 posted on 12/18/2023 10:33:20 AM PST by Cold_Red_Steel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man; ComputerGuy
One of my favorite anecdotes was from a high-society woman who sat next to the notoriously close-mouthed Calvin Coolidge at some fancy dinner party when he was President, and the conversation went something like this:

WEALTHY SOCIALITE: Good evening, Mr President! My husband told me I wouldn't be able to get three words out of you during the entire dinner! What do you say to that?

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE: You lose.

59 posted on 12/18/2023 10:36:25 AM PST by rlmorel ("The stigma for being wrong is gone, as long as you're wrong for the right side." (Clarice Feldman))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

Good one!


60 posted on 12/18/2023 10:39:30 AM PST by ComputerGuy (Heavily-medicated for your protection)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson