Scientists still hold out hope that one day we will meet our brothers-in-intelligence from other civilisations. But in what language will we communicate with them, and what can we do now to overcome such a difficult language barrier?
A group of scientists from the SETI Institute at the University of California and the Alaska Whale Foundation, an American research non-profit organization, have their own solution to this problem and have proposed to “rehearse” a future dialogue with extraterrestrials in communication with whales.
Such an unusual choice scientists explain the high intelligence and complex social communication systems of these animals. Two years ago, the team recorded “calls” from a pack of whales, transmitting a “slam” message – a kind of greeting – through a speaker placed underwater to test the whales’ reactions.
