As we delve into the fascinating world of marine mammals, a team of scientists from the SETI Institute and the University of California at Davis has made a groundbreaking discovery. For the first time, they’ve documented humpback whales producing large bubble rings, akin to a human smoker blowing smoke rings, during friendly interactions with humans. This previously little-studied behavior may represent play or communication.

Humpback whales are already known for using bubbles to corral prey and creating bubble trails and bursts when competing to escort a female whale. These new observations show humpback whales producing bubble rings during friendly encounters with humans. This finding contributes to the WhaleSETI team’s broader goal of studying non-human intelligence to aid in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, analyzed 12 bubble ring-production episodes involving 39 rings made by 11 individual whales. According to Dr. Laurance Doyle, SETI Institute scientist and co-author on the paper, “Because of current limitations on technology, an important assumption of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is that extraterrestrial intelligence and life will be interested in making contact and so target human receivers.” This assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales.

Dr. Fred Sharpe, co-lead author and UC Davis Affiliate, notes, “Humpback whales live in complex societies, are acoustically diverse, use bubble tools, and assist other species being harassed by predators. Now, akin to a candidate signal, we show 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.”

The team’s findings have significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. By studying intelligent, non-terrestrial (aquatic), nonhuman communication systems, they aim to develop filters that aid in parsing cosmic signals for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Other team members and coauthors of the paper include Dr. Josephine Hubbard, Doug Perrine, Simon Hilbourne, Dr. Joy Reidenberg, and Dr. Brenda McCowan, with specialties in animal intelligences, photography, behavior of humpback whales, whale anatomy, and the use of AI in parsing animal communication.

An earlier paper by the team was published in PeerJ, entitled “Interactive Bioacoustic Playback as a Tool for Detecting and Exploring Nonhuman Intelligence: ‘Conversing’ with an Alaskan Humpback Whale.” The authors would like to acknowledge the Templeton Foundation Diverse Intelligences Program for financial support of this work.

The article “Navigating Attitudes: The Crucial Role of Emotional Responses in Adopting Self-Driving Cars” reveals that public attitudes toward self-driving cars are not solely determined by understanding how they work, but also by emotional responses and social benefits. A study published in Transportation Research surveyed 323 people on their perceptions of autonomous vehicles, finding that considerations like trust, excitement, and curiosity about the technology’s potential impact on society play a significant role in shaping attitudes.

According to Wei Peng, an assistant professor at Washington State University, “We found that some of the non-functional aspects of autonomous vehicles are also very important,” including emotional value associated with using the cars, beliefs about broader social impact, and curiosity about learning how the technology works. The study also revealed that respondents would want to give the technology a test drive before adopting it, suggesting that hands-on experience is crucial in building trust.

The research highlights the complexity of attitudes towards self-driving cars, which depend heavily on individual circumstances and can be nuanced in surprising ways. For example, those with a strong “car-authority identity” may be more likely to believe the cars would be easy to use, but less likely to view them as useful. Other considerations, such as disability or concerns about heavy traffic or inclement weather, also play a role in shaping attitudes.

As fully self-driving vehicles approach commercial availability by 2035, widespread adoption is crucial for achieving safety benefits and improving mobility for people with limited access to transportation. However, the rollout of “robotaxies” has been bumpy, with some high-profile accidents and recalls, indicating that public attitudes towards these vehicles remain persistently negative.

The study’s findings open new questions for future research, such as: “What is it about thinking the car is easy to use that makes people trust it less?” and how individual circumstances can influence attitudes towards self-driving cars. Ultimately, understanding these complexities will be essential in developing effective strategies for promoting widespread adoption of this emerging technology.

The Pressure to Conform: How Peer Norms Drive Risky Behavior in Young Adults

Growing up in close-knit communities can be beneficial, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. For Joshua Awua, a postdoctoral research associate at The University of Texas at Arlington’s School of Social Work, the strong social bonds he experienced in Ghana often led to pressure to conform – including drinking.

“Social connection was everything,” Dr. Awua recalled, “and sometimes that came with pressure to fit in, including drinking.” This experience has now fueled his research on how social influences, particularly peer pressure, impact substance use and misuse among young adults.

Dr. Awua recently co-published a study titled “Perceived Norms and Alcohol-Related Consequences: The Moderated Mediation Roles of Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol Consumption” in the journal Substance Use & Misuse. The study explores how college students’ misperceptions about their peers’ drinking habits can lead to heavy episodic drinking and negative consequences.

The research found that young adults often misjudge their peers’ alcohol consumption, believing they’re drinking more than they actually are. This misperception can lead to feelings of pressure to keep up, resulting in risky behaviors like binge drinking. To address these misperceptions, the study suggests using protective behavioral strategies (PBS), such as:

* Drinking slowly
* Avoiding drinking games
* Monitoring one’s own drinking

These simple yet effective techniques can help young adults stay in control and reduce the influence of perceived norms.

The consequences of binge drinking and other substance-related harm can be severe, with estimated 1,519 college students dying each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries. By using protective behavioral strategies, young adults can reduce their risk of experiencing these negative consequences.

As Dr. Awua emphasized, “What the evidence shows, and what our study confirmed, is that once students begin to use these strategies, they reduce the risk of experiencing negative consequences like drunk driving.” Ultimately, by supporting their own health and well-being, young adults can lower the overall rates of substance-related harm.