Scientists Achieve First Interactive Conversation with a Humpback Whale

The breakthrough could pave the way for future attempts to communicate with other intelligent species and aid in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Scientists from the University of California, Davis, the SETI Institute, and the Alaska Whale Foundation have reported a 20-minute 'conversation' with a humpback whale named Twain, marking the first interactive conversation between a human and a humpback whale in the whale's own language.
The researchers used an underwater speaker to play back a recorded 'whup' call, a type of whale call believed to be used for socializing and locating each other. Twain responded to almost every call with her own of the same type.
The interaction provides valuable insights into the communication patterns of humpback whales and could serve as a starting point for future attempts to communicate with other intelligent species, both on Earth and potentially beyond.
The researchers are developing intelligence filters that could be used to decipher signals from extraterrestrial life, using their study of whale communication as a basis.
The team plans to publish a second paper focusing on non-audio communicative behavior of humpback whales, such as the creation of 'bubble rings' when near humans.