Scientists identify strange 'communication' of non-human intelligence in Earth's oceans
科學(xué)家在地球海洋中發(fā)現(xiàn)了非人類智能的奇怪“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.

科學(xué)家們發(fā)現(xiàn)了海洋中一種奇特交流方式的來源，他們表示這可能有助于他們在太空中尋找外星生命。

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.

來自地外文明搜尋研究所（SETI）的研究人員透露，水下出現(xiàn)的大型“煙圈狀”氣泡是座頭鯨制造的，研究人員認(rèn)為這是它們向附近的人類打招呼的一種方式。

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.

這是科學(xué)家們首次在野外觀察到鯨魚在與人類互動時(shí)釋放這種獨(dú)特的氣泡環(huán)，SETI團(tuán)隊(duì)表示，這表明鯨魚有意吸引人類注意，就像是在打招呼一樣。

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，人們只在座頭鯨捕食或雄鯨用氣泡環(huán)吸引配偶時(shí)觀察到這種氣泡環(huán)。

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.

研究人員表示，鯨魚多年來很可能一直在嘗試與人類交流，只是這一現(xiàn)象直到現(xiàn)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.

研究團(tuán)隊(duì)補(bǔ)充說，這些氣泡環(huán)可能幫助研究人員完善在宇宙中尋找外星智慧生命的方法，開啟發(fā)現(xiàn)我們通常認(rèn)為并非針對人類的異常太空信號的大門。

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.'

加州大學(xué)戴維斯分校的研究共同作者弗雷德·夏普博士說：“它們朝我們的方向吹氣泡環(huán)，顯然是想和我們玩耍、觀察我們的反應(yīng)，或進(jìn)行某種形式的交流。”

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.

現(xiàn)在，該研究所的WhaleSETI團(tuán)隊(duì)正在研究，這是否表明智慧海洋動物正試圖與人類對話，方式類似于遠(yuǎn)方外星海洋中的生命試圖與地球聯(lián)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研究所和加州大學(xué)戴維斯分校的研究人員揭示，水下產(chǎn)生的大型“煙圈狀”氣泡是座頭鯨制造的，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，從未有人觀察到座頭鯨在與人類互動時(shí)制造這些氣泡環(huán)，而這項(xiàng)新研究從那時(shí)開始記錄了多個(gè)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尋地外智慧生命以及研究宇宙生命起源和本質(zhì)的非營利研究機(jī)構(gòu)。

Scientists analyzed 12 bubble ringepisodes that involved 11 different humpback whales between 2019 and 2023 in the wild.

科學(xué)家們分析了2019年至2023年間在野外發(fā)生的12起氣泡環(huán)事件，這些事件涉及11頭不同的座頭鯨。

These rare reports came from naturalists, citizen scientists, and researchers who revealed what they saw on social media, during interviews, or at scientific conferences.

這些罕見的報(bào)告來自自然學(xué)家、公民科學(xué)家和研究人員，他們通過社交媒體、訪談或科學(xué)會議分享了自己的觀察。

In total, the witnesses spotted 39 bubble rings from whale-watching boats, research vessels, private ships, and airplanes.

總共目擊者從觀鯨船、科研船、私人船只以及飛機(jī)上發(fā)現(xiàn)了39個(gè)氣泡環(huán)。

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.

這項(xiàng)發(fā)表在《海洋哺乳動物科學(xué)》期刊的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，氣泡環(huán)主要出現(xiàn)在三個(gè)情境：覓食、休息和好奇——其中好奇是最常見的原因。

There were nine instances of humpback whales blowing bubble rings near boats and swimmers.

有九次是座頭鯨在船只和游泳者附近吹氣泡環(huán)。

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.

在這些情況下，鯨魚經(jīng)常被看到靠近船只和水中的人，沒有任何攻擊跡象，還會擺動尾巴并從噴氣孔噴水。

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.

研究人員表示，這是座頭鯨放松且想要玩耍的明顯跡象，使它們在與附近人類交流時(shí)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.

它們通常從噴氣孔釋放直徑約6到10英尺的氣泡環(huán)，這些氣泡環(huán)會筆直上升，到達(dá)海面時(shí)看起來就像煙圈。

The rings were often aimed right at humans and were paired with other playful behaviors like circling the boats or peeking at swimmers.

這些氣泡環(huán)往往直接朝人類釋放，同時(shí)伴隨其他玩耍行為，如圍繞船只游動或偷看游泳者。

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.

座頭鯨在釋放氣泡環(huán)后沒有表現(xiàn)出憤怒或恐懼，反而會停留一段時(shí)間，仿佛在等待人類“回應(yīng)”它們的問候。

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.

科學(xué)家們得出結(jié)論，這些氣泡環(huán)可能是鯨魚表達(dá)“嘿，來聊聊吧！”或玩?zhèn)€游戲看看我們的反應(yīng)，就像孩子吹泡泡吸引大人注意一樣。

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團(tuán)隊(duì)表示，這種前所未見的座頭鯨行為進(jìn)一步支持了智慧外星生命也可能試圖與人類接觸的假設(shè)。

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研究所科學(xué)家、該研究的共同作者勞倫斯·道爾博士說：“座頭鯨好奇行為的獨(dú)立進(jìn)化無疑支持了這一重要假設(shè)?！?/p>

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.

通過研究這些鯨魚及其與人類的新型互動作為非人類智慧的例子，WhaleSETI的研究人員正在探索如何發(fā)現(xiàn)并解讀可能存在于太空中的信號。

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，這些氣泡環(huán)可能是鯨魚有意與它們認(rèn)為友善的人類交流的一種嘗試，而不僅僅是無目的的玩耍。

According to SETI, this would mimic how extraterrestrials might target satellite receivers on Earth if they wanted to contact humanity.

據(jù)SETI稱，這類似于外星人如果想要聯(lián)系地球人，可能會瞄準(zhǔn)地球上的衛(wèi)星接收器的方式。

This isn't the first time the WhaleSETI team has connected the behavior of humpbacks to aliens.

這并非WhaleSETI團(tuán)隊(duì)首次將座頭鯨的行為與外星人聯(lián)系起來。

In 2023, scientists engaged in a 20-minute 'conversation' with a humpback whale named Twain in Alaska.

2023年，科學(xué)家們在阿拉斯加與一頭名叫特溫的座頭鯨進(jìn)行了一次長達(dá)20分鐘的“對話”。

They played whale calls for her and Twain responded with similar calls, matching the timing like a back-and-forth chat.

他們播放鯨叫給特溫聽，特溫用類似的叫聲回應(yīng)，配合時(shí)間，就像是一場你來我往的聊天。

That study showed whales can intentionally interact with humans, helping SETI scientists understand the non-human intelligences they may find in space.

這項(xiàng)研究表明，鯨魚可以有意與人類互動，這有助于SETI科學(xué)家理解他們在太空中可能發(fā)現(xiàn)的非人類智慧生命。

'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團(tuán)隊(duì)在一份聲明中解釋說：“通過將我們的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)納入德雷克方程的更廣泛背景，我們希望推進(jìn)對影響外星文明中交流智慧出現(xiàn)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年提出的一個(gè)數(shù)學(xué)公式，用于估算銀河系中能夠與人類交流、并且可能通過其信號（如無線電波）被探測到的外星文明數(shù)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.

如果鯨魚證明好奇心和友好的互動是交流的關(guān)鍵，這意味著外星文明也可能需要具備這些特質(zhì)才能發(fā)展出可被探測到的信號，這將影響德雷克方程中的數(shù)值，并指導(dǎo)SETI在地球之外尋找生命。

詞組分析：
source of a strange form of communication 某種奇怪交流形式的來源
greeting nearby humans 向附近人類打招呼
get the attention of humans 吸引人類的注意
send out these unique rings 釋放這些獨(dú)特的環(huán)（send out = release）
trails of bubble rings 一連串氣泡環(huán)
trying to communicate with people 試圖與人溝通
refine their search 完善他們的搜尋
spotting unusual signals 發(fā)現(xiàn)異常信號
playfully interact 玩耍式互動
engage in some form of communication 參與某種形式的交流
mimic how extraterrestrials might... 模擬外星人可能如何...
integrating our findings into... 將我們的發(fā)現(xiàn)納入...

without any signs of aggression 沒有任何攻擊跡象
relaxed and trying to be playful 放松且試圖玩耍
feel comfortable communicating 感到自在地交流
linger after sending out the bubble ring 釋放氣泡環(huán)后停留
waiting for the people to “answer” their greeting 仿佛在等人回應(yīng)它們的問候

study co-lead author 研究共同負(fù)責(zé)人
published in Marine Mammal Science 發(fā)表在《海洋哺乳動物科學(xué)》
advance our understanding of the factors influencing... 推進(jìn)我們對...影響因素的理解
estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations 估算外星文明數(shù)量
detectable through their signals 通過它們的信號可被探測到

句子分析：
? could help them locate extraterrestrial life in space

經(jīng)典“could help + do sth”結(jié)構(gòu)，表示潛在用途。

? which researchers believe is their way of greeting

定語從句，which 引導(dǎo)，解釋前面的 bubbles。

? They are blowing bubble rings in our direction in an apparent attempt to playfully interact

“in an apparent attempt to…” 表示“顯然是為了...”

? might be a whale’s way of saying, “Hey, let’s chat!”

非正式引用，生動地表達(dá)科學(xué)推測。