Alien life, with its distinct evolutionary paths, is likely to possess unique modes of communication. In the event of contact, how would humanity bridge the communication gap and interact with these otherworldly beings?
Throughout history, humans have demonstrated a remarkable ability to overcome seemingly impossible language barriers. Scholars deciphering ancient scripts and languages often rely on shared human habits as reference points.
For instance, the deciphering of the Rosetta Stone, a 196 BC decree providing a crucial clue to reading ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, was aided by understanding how humans highlight importance in writing, such as circling key elements.
Even body language, exemplified by the Spanish conquistadors using hand signs and gestures upon their arrival in the Americas, has served as a tool for cross-cultural communication, albeit with tragic outcomes.
However, human communication is rooted in our species’ evolution, and extraterrestrial beings may possess entirely different ways of thinking and behaving. Their social structures could be unrecognizable or even unfathomable. Considering this, deciphering their potential messages becomes a monumental challenge.
Earth is a hub of diverse communication, with around 7,100 human languages, not to mention the myriad ways animals communicate.
In an intriguing encounter, the Whale-SETI team, comprised of scientists from the SETI Institute, University of California Davis, and the Alaska Whale Foundation, engaged with a non-human intelligence – humpback whales.
Studying humpback whale communication systems, the team sought insights for developing intelligence filters in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
During an exchange with a humpback whale named Twain, responding to recorded ‘contact’ calls, the team observed intricate conversational dynamics.
This unique interaction, detailed in the journal Peer J, sheds light on the potential for understanding and interpreting non-human intelligence.
Lead author Dr. Brenda McCowan of U.C. Davis remarked, “We believe this is the first such communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in the humpback “language.”
But why Humpback whales?
Co-author Dr. Fred Sharpe of the Alaska Whale Foundation noted, “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.”
Coauthor Dr. Laurance Doyle of the SETI Institute added, “Because of current limitations on technology, an important assumption of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is that extraterrestrials will be interested in making contact and so target human receivers. This important assumption is certainly supported by the behavior of humpback whales.
The Whale-SETI team’s exploration of terrestrial, non-human communication serves as a proxy for potential extraterrestrial communication.
By applying the mathematics of information theory to quantify communicative complexity, the team aims to develop filters for deciphering any extraterrestrial signals received.
This innovative approach aligns with the assumption that extraterrestrial beings, like humpback whales, may be interested in making contact and could target human receivers.
Image Credit: Leo on Unsplash