Scientists identify strange 'communication' of non-human intelligence in Earth's oceans
科学家在地球海洋中发现了非人类智能的奇怪“交流”
Scientists have found the source of a strange form of communication in the ocean that they say could help them locate extraterrestrial life in space.
科学家们发现了海洋中一种奇特交流方式的来源，他们表示这可能有助于他们在太空中寻找外星生命。
Researchers from the SETI Institute (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) revealed that large 'smoke ring-like' bubbles coming from underwater were created by humpback whales, which researchers believe is their way of greeting nearby humans.
来自地外文明搜寻研究所（SETI）的研究人员透露，水下出现的大型“烟圈状”气泡是座头鲸制造的，研究人员认为这是它们向附近的人类打招呼的一种方式。
It's the first time scientists have seen whales sending out these unique rings while interacting with people in the wild, and the SETI team said they show an intentional attempt to get the attention of humans - just like saying hello.
这是科学家们首次在野外观察到鲸鱼在与人类互动时释放这种独特的气泡环，SETI团队表示，这表明鲸鱼有意吸引人类注意，就像是在打招呼一样。
Until now, the bubble rings have only been seen while humpbacks weregathering prey and when males were making a trail of bubble rings to attract a mate.
在此之前，人们只在座头鲸捕食或雄鲸用气泡环吸引配偶时观察到这种气泡环。
Researchers said it's quite possible whales have been trying to communicate with people for years but the phenomenon hasn't been studied until now.
研究人员表示，鲸鱼多年来很可能一直在尝试与人类交流，只是这一现象直到现在才被研究。
The team added that these bubble rings could help researchers refine their search for an alien intelligence in the cosmos, opening a door to spotting unusual signals from space that we normally wouldn't think are meant for humans.
研究团队补充说，这些气泡环可能帮助研究人员完善在宇宙中寻找外星智慧生命的方法，开启发现我们通常认为并非针对人类的异常太空信号的大门。
Study co-lead author Dr Fred Sharpe from the University of California-Davis said: '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.'
加州大学戴维斯分校的研究共同作者弗雷德·夏普博士说：“它们朝我们的方向吹气泡环，显然是想和我们玩耍、观察我们的反应，或进行某种形式的交流。”
Now, the institute's WhaleSETI team is studying if this could be a sign that intelligent marine animals are trying to talk to humans, in the same way that aliens from a distant ocean may try to contact Earth.
现在，该研究所的WhaleSETI团队正在研究，这是否表明智慧海洋动物正试图与人类对话，方式类似于远方外星海洋中的生命试图与地球联系。
Researchers from the SETI Institute and the University of California-Davis revealed that large 'smoke ring-like' bubbles coming from underwater were created by humpback whales, not aliens.
SETI研究所和加州大学戴维斯分校的研究人员揭示，水下产生的大型“烟圈状”气泡是座头鲸制造的，而非外星人。
Humpback whales have never been seen making these bubble rings while interacting with humans until 2019, when this new study began documenting multiple cases.
在2019年之前，从未有人观察到座头鲸在与人类互动时制造这些气泡环，而这项新研究从那时开始记录了多个案例。
The SETI Institute is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to searching for extraterrestrial intelligence and studying the origins and nature of life in the universe.
SETI研究所是一家致力于搜寻地外智慧生命以及研究宇宙生命起源和本质的非营利研究机构。
Scientists analyzed 12 bubble ringepisodes that involved 11 different humpback whales between 2019 and 2023 in the wild.
科学家们分析了2019年至2023年间在野外发生的12起气泡环事件，这些事件涉及11头不同的座头鲸。
These rare reports came from naturalists, citizen scientists, and researchers who revealed what they saw on social media, during interviews, or at scientific conferences.
这些罕见的报告来自自然学家、公民科学家和研究人员，他们通过社交媒体、访谈或科学会议分享了自己的观察。
In total, the witnesses spotted 39 bubble rings from whale-watching boats, research vessels, private ships, and airplanes.
总共目击者从观鲸船、科研船、私人船只以及飞机上发现了39个气泡环。
The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, found that bubble rings were produced in three main contexts: feeding, resting, and curiosity - which was the most common purpose.
这项发表在《海洋哺乳动物科学》期刊的研究发现，气泡环主要出现在三个情境：觅食、休息和好奇——其中好奇是最常见的原因。
There were nine instances of humpback whales blowing bubble rings near boats and swimmers.
有九次是座头鲸在船只和游泳者附近吹气泡环。
The whales in these cases were consistently seen approaching boats and people in the water without any signs of aggression, splashing their tails and spraying water out of their blowholes.
在这些情况下，鲸鱼经常被看到靠近船只和水中的人，没有任何攻击迹象，还会摆动尾巴并从喷气孔喷水。
The researchers said this was a clear sign that the humpbacks were relaxed and trying to be playful, leading them to feel comfortable communicating with the humans near them.
研究人员表示，这是座头鲸放松且想要玩耍的明显迹象，使它们在与附近人类交流时感到自在。
They typically let out bubble rings from their blowholes that were six to 10 feet in diameter, which floated straight up and look like a smoke ring when they reached the ocean surface.
它们通常从喷气孔释放直径约6到10英尺的气泡环，这些气泡环会笔直上升，到达海面时看起来就像烟圈。
The rings were often aimed right at humans and were paired with other playful behaviors like circling the boats or peeking at swimmers.
这些气泡环往往直接朝人类释放，同时伴随其他玩耍行为，如围绕船只游动或偷看游泳者。
The humpbacks didn't show anger or fear and lingered after sending out the bubble ring, almost as if waiting for the people to “answer” their greeting.
座头鲸在释放气泡环后没有表现出愤怒或恐惧，反而会停留一段时间，仿佛在等待人类“回应”它们的问候。
Scientists concluded that these rings might be a whale’s way of saying, “Hey, let’s chat!” or play a game to see how we react, much like a child blowing bubbles to get our attention.
科学家们得出结论，这些气泡环可能是鲸鱼表达“嘿，来聊聊吧！”或玩个游戏看看我们的反应，就像孩子吹泡泡吸引大人注意一样。
The team from SETI said this never-before-seen behavior among humpback whales further supports the assumption that intelligent extraterrestrial life might also seek contact with humans.
SETI团队表示，这种前所未见的座头鲸行为进一步支持了智慧外星生命也可能试图与人类接触的假设。
SETI Institute scientist and study co-author Dr Laurance Doyle said: 'This important assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales.'
SETI研究所科学家、该研究的共同作者劳伦斯·道尔博士说：“座头鲸好奇行为的独立进化无疑支持了这一重要假设。”
By studying these whales and their new interactions with people as an example of non-human intelligence, WhaleSETI researchers are creating ways of finding and translating potential signals found in space.
通过研究这些鲸鱼及其与人类的新型互动作为非人类智慧的例子，WhaleSETI的研究人员正在探索如何发现并解读可能存在于太空中的信号。
The institute suggested that bubble rings could be a deliberate attempt by whales to talk with humans they considered peaceful, not just aimless play.
研究所提出，这些气泡环可能是鲸鱼有意与它们认为友善的人类交流的一种尝试，而不仅仅是无目的的玩耍。
According to SETI, this would mimic how extraterrestrials might target satellite receivers on Earth if they wanted to contact humanity.
据SETI称，这类似于外星人如果想要联系地球人，可能会瞄准地球上的卫星接收器的方式。
This isn't the first time the WhaleSETI team has connected the behavior of humpbacks to aliens.
这并非WhaleSETI团队首次将座头鲸的行为与外星人联系起来。
In 2023, scientists engaged in a 20-minute 'conversation' with a humpback whale named Twain in Alaska.
2023年，科学家们在阿拉斯加与一头名叫特温的座头鲸进行了一次长达20分钟的“对话”。
They played whale calls for her and Twain responded with similar calls, matching the timing like a back-and-forth chat.
他们播放鲸叫给特温听，特温用类似的叫声回应，配合时间，就像是一场你来我往的聊天。
That study showed whales can intentionally interact with humans, helping SETI scientists understand the non-human intelligences they may find in space.
这项研究表明，鲸鱼可以有意与人类互动，这有助于SETI科学家理解他们在太空中可能发现的非人类智慧生命。
'By integrating our findings into the broader context of Drake's Equation, we aspire to advance our understanding of the factors influencing the emergence of communicative intelligence in extraterrestrial civilizations,' the WhaleSETI team explained in a statement.
WhaleSETI团队在一份声明中解释说：“通过将我们的研究发现纳入德雷克方程的更广泛背景，我们希望推进对影响外星文明中交流智慧出现因素的理解。”
Drake's Equation is a mathematical formula created in 1961 to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy that can communicate with humans and might be detectable through their signals, like radio waves.
德雷克方程是1961年提出的一个数学公式，用于估算银河系中能够与人类交流、并且可能通过其信号（如无线电波）被探测到的外星文明数量。
If whales show that curiosity and friendly interactions are key to communication, it suggests alien civilizations might also need these traits to develop detectable signals, influencing the numbers in Drake's Equation and guiding SETI's search for life beyond Earth.
如果鲸鱼证明好奇心和友好的互动是交流的关键，这意味着外星文明也可能需要具备这些特质才能发展出可被探测到的信号，这将影响德雷克方程中的数值，并指导SETI在地球之外寻找生命。
词组分析：
source of a strange form of communication 某种奇怪交流形式的来源
greeting nearby humans 向附近人类打招呼
get the attention of humans 吸引人类的注意
send out these unique rings 释放这些独特的环（send out = release）
trails of bubble rings 一连串气泡环
trying to communicate with people 试图与人沟通
refine their search 完善他们的搜寻
spotting unusual signals 发现异常信号
playfully interact 玩耍式互动
engage in some form of communication 参与某种形式的交流
mimic how extraterrestrials might... 模拟外星人可能如何...
integrating our findings into... 将我们的发现纳入...
without any signs of aggression 没有任何攻击迹象
relaxed and trying to be playful 放松且试图玩耍
feel comfortable communicating 感到自在地交流
linger after sending out the bubble ring 释放气泡环后停留
waiting for the people to “answer” their greeting 仿佛在等人回应它们的问候
study co-lead author 研究共同负责人
published in Marine Mammal Science 发表在《海洋哺乳动物科学》
advance our understanding of the factors influencing... 推进我们对...影响因素的理解
estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations 估算外星文明数量
detectable through their signals 通过它们的信号可被探测到
句子分析：
✅ could help them locate extraterrestrial life in space
经典“could help + do sth”结构，表示潜在用途。
✅ which researchers believe is their way of greeting
定语从句，which 引导，解释前面的 bubbles。
✅ They are blowing bubble rings in our direction in an apparent attempt to playfully interact
“in an apparent attempt to…” 表示“显然是为了...”
✅ might be a whale’s way of saying, “Hey, let’s chat!”
非正式引用，生动地表达科学推测。
