Mysterious noises that have disturbed lighthouse keepers for generations may be humpback whales sneezing, according to new research. The low, eerie rumbles have traveled up to five miles, been felt through building structures for decades, and confused fishermen. However, scientists working in Alaska have now traced them back to the region's humpback whales.
Research Findings
The humming sounds have never been described in academic literature, and why the whales make the noise remains a mystery. Fred Sharpe, a biologist with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI), led the research centered on the Five Finger lighthouse in Frederick Sound, southeast Alaska. He described the noise as sounding like distant thunder, an elephant rumble, or machinery, and suggested it could be a self-soothing sigh or a sneeze.
The sounds, ranging between 30 and 300 hertz and audible to human hearing, appear 'more mechanical' from a distance, according to Sharpe. The discovery could be used to track the creatures and prevent collisions with ships.
Implications for Extraterrestrial Life
Sharpe noted that the failure to recognize the sound until now suggests there might be extraterrestrial life attempting to communicate with unaware humans. 'If conspicuous sounds from our beloved whales are falling on deaf ears, goodness knows what cosmic signals might fall under the radar,' he told The Times.
Sharpe was previously part of a research team that held a conversation with a whale. A 38-year-old humpback whale named Twain 'spoke' with researchers from the SETI Institute and UC Davis for 20 minutes by responding to a pre-recorded 'contact call.' This marked the first communication between humans and whales in their own language, according to the team.
Whale Communication and Alien Life
The researchers said the conversation could pave the way for interactions with aliens in the future. In the study, SETI researchers studied how whales communicate in the hopes of developing 'intelligence filters' as part of the search for alien life. They broadcast a type of greeting call called a 'whup/throp' through underwater speakers. When the call was played, Twain approached the boat and responded with a greeting call of her own. Importantly, the scientists found that Twain was changing the frequency of her calls in response to the broadcast. According to lead author Dr. Brenda McCowan of UC Davis, this mirroring behavior shows that the whale was engaging in a type of interactive conversation with the recorded call.
