Humpback whales are large, smart sea animals. People already know they use bubbles in different ways—to find food, show strength during mating, or even to scare off rivals. But now, a new study shows that whales might also be doing something very unusual: blowing bubble rings that look like smoke rings under the water.
These bubble rings have surprised scientists. Could the whales be playing? Or could they be trying to communicate with humans? This new behavior could change what we know about humpback whales and their intelligence.
What Scientists Discovered
A new study in Marine Mammal Science shares exciting news. Researchers from University of California, Davis, and the SETI Institute (which usually searches for aliens) found strange whale behavior while studying old whale videos. One old clip from 1988, filmed by Dan Knaub, showed a whale named “Thorn” blowing 19 bubble shapes, including 11 perfect rings, in just 10 minutes!
“We were shocked,” said whale scientist Fred Sharpe from UC Davis. “It felt like something from outer space.”
After this, the team looked at more videos and photos—some shared by people on social media and others from wildlife photographers. They found a total of 12 bubble ring events, showing 39 bubble rings created by 11 different whales across the North and South Pacific and the North Atlantic Oceans.
What Are Bubble Rings and Why Are Whales Making Them?
Bubble rings are round, doughnut-shaped bubbles that spin in the water. They are rare and not often seen. Some whales seem to swim through the rings, while others pop their heads up through them—a move called a spy hop.
Researchers still don’t know why the whales are making these rings. Here are some ideas:
- Playful behavior: Whales might be having fun and playing with the bubbles.
- Curiosity: In many of the sightings, whales swam closer to humans before making the rings.
- Communication: Whales could be sending messages to each other—or maybe even to us.
Fred Sharpe wonders if the whales are trying to “talk” to people. “It’s like their blowhole is a mouth,” he says. “And the bubbles are like words.”
Could Whales Be Reaching Out to Humans?
The idea that whales are trying to communicate is exciting but not proven yet. Some scientists believe the bubble rings could be a new type of signal. Maybe whales are learning to make them just for us.
But experts like Susan E. Parks, a whale researcher at Syracuse University, say it’s too soon to know. “We need more sightings and better data before we say for sure,” she said. She also mentioned that most sightings happen when people are watching, so the data might be a bit one-sided.
Still, Parks says the study is fun and exciting—like a mystery story. “Now that more scientists are looking for these rings, we may find many more examples soon.”
What’s Next for Whale Research?
Researchers like Sharpe hope that with more videos and photos, they can learn what bubble rings really mean. Maybe they are just for fun. Maybe they are a new way whales are adapting to humans. Or maybe they are part of a secret language we don’t understand yet.
Sharpe says the work feels like trying to talk to aliens. “If we do find a message,” he said, “we should find a way to respond.”
More than anything, Sharpe hopes this discovery makes people feel closer to whales and more interested in protecting them. Whales face many threats today, including:
- Ship strikes
- Fishing net entanglement
- Ocean noise pollution
- Chemical waste
- Loss of food and habitat
“Maybe these bubble rings are a way for whales to show they notice us,” Sharpe said. “Now it’s time for us to show we’re listening.”
