The year 2007 has been declared as Year of the Dolphin by the United Nations and United Nations Environment Program. But what do we really know about these incredible creatures?

After all, it might be good practice for the future. If we someday do make contact with intelligent alien life, how would we communicate? Surely extra-terrestrials will have evolved with a much different intellectual/physical capabilities than us. Even if a particular alien life form is as intelligent or even possesses far superior cognitive abilities—that doesn’t mean we’ll have compatible biological systems for true communication. How will we overcome those physical and intellectual communication barriers? Learning to more effectively communicate and understand differently evolved life forms on our planet may provide important insights into possible future interactions with life beyond planet Earth.

As I have said many times before: There must be intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. What else would explain why they have never contacted our species.

BTW very interesting clip. Thanks WC

It is a little discouraging that in this day and age we still haven't managed an effective communication with any other creature on this planet. We can teach animals to learn our commands, but we can't be taught theirs.

but we can't be taught theirs.

you forgot about the horse and dog whisperers

That's not the type of communication I'm talking about. That is more of an affinity than a communication. I don't think horses and dogs are even considered having a "higher" intelligence - at least from the perspective of brain size and potential.