Taking a lesson in evolutionary adaptation from octopus, squid

Two new studies describe path of divergent sensing capabilities, tracking lineage from common ancestral neurons.

Alice McCarthy • harvard
April 12, 2023 • ~5 min

Harvard study looks at how cephalopods develop their big brains

How squid and octopus get their big brains.

Juan Siliezar • harvard
Nov. 16, 2022 • ~5 min

Evolutionary tree of life: modern science is showing how we got so much wrong

DNA analysis is beginning to reveal how wrong the long-accepted evolutionary tree is.

Matthew Wills, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath • conversation
June 23, 2022 • ~7 min

What does an octopus eat? For a creature with a brain in each arm, whatever's within reach

With nine brains, blue blood and a talent for camouflage, the octopus is one of the most fascinating creatures in the sea.

Yannis Papastamatiou, Professor of Biological Sciences, Florida International University • conversation
May 9, 2022 • ~6 min

Squid skin inspires material that keeps stuff hot (or cool)

In the future, you may have a squid to thank for your coffee staying hot. Squid skin has inspired a new material for insulating cups, packaging, and more.

Brian Bell-UC Irvine • futurity
March 29, 2022 • ~6 min

Earliest octopus relative is named after Joe Biden

The earliest relative of octopuses and vampire squid lived 328 million years ago, had 10 arms, and suckers to grasp prey. It's named after Joe Biden.

Jim Shelton-Yale • futurity
March 21, 2022 • ~5 min

Meet the ten-armed, 325-million-year-old octopus fossil named after President Joe Biden

The fossil is the oldest known vampyropod to date.

Tom Fletcher, Honorary Research Fellow in Palaeobiology, University of Leicester • conversation
March 8, 2022 • ~6 min

Understanding how squid eyes are made

Harvard researchers shed new light on squid eye development and convergent evolution.

Juan Siliezar • harvard
Jan. 7, 2022 • ~5 min

NASA Sends Squid into Space for Research
VOA Learning English • voa
June 28, 2021 • ~3 min

Risk versus reward on the high seas – skinny elephant seals trade safety for sustenance

By measuring how and when elephant seals sleep, researchers were able to figure out how elephant seals change their risk-taking behavior as they gain weight.

Jessica Kendall-Bar, PhD Candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz • conversation
March 17, 2021 • ~9 min

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