Truth behind strange bubble ‘smoke’ rings seen

Researchers believe that the unusual bubble ring behavior of humpback whales may provide insights into how alien species might attempt to communicate with humans. These large, smoke-like rings—actually made of bubbles—are produced by whales and appear to be intentionally directed toward nearby humans. Unlike their known use of bubbles for feeding or mating, this behavior seems unrelated to survival. Instead, scientists suggest it could be a form of play, observation, or even communication, as whales repeatedly approach humans and release the rings.

A recent study from the SETI Institute and University of California documented 12 cases involving 11 whales from around the world, producing a total of 39 rings. This research is part of the WhaleSETI project, which explores non-human intelligence to improve our understanding of how extraterrestrial life might interact. Scientists argue that by studying the curiosity and social behaviors of species like whales, we can better prepare to identify and interpret potential alien signals in the future. The whales’ consistent, friendly interactions suggest that curiosity and the desire to connect might not be unique to humans—offering a promising model for the search for life beyond Earth.