Search Results for: Cephalopod

Life

Squid edit their RNA to keep cellular supply lines moving in the cold

Squid change their RNA more often in the cold, producing motor proteins that keep cellular cargo on track.

Animals

Scientists have now recorded brain waves from freely moving octopuses

The data reveal some unexpected patterns, though it’s too early to know how octopus brains control the animals’ behavior, a new study finds.

Paleontology

Vampire squid are gentle blobs. But this ancestor was a fierce hunter

New fossil analyses of 164-million-year-old ancestors of today’s vampire squid show the ancient cephalopods had muscular bodies and powerful suckers.

Paleontology

Scientists are arguing over the identity of a fossilized 10-armed creature

An ancient cephalopod fossil may be the oldest ancestor of octopuses, but the interpretation hinges on the identification of one feature.

Paleontology

This bizarre ancient critter has been kicked out of a group that includes humans

A wee sea creature without an anus was thought to be the oldest deuterostome. New imaging showing it had spines led to its reclassification.

Tech

This octopus-inspired glove helps humans grip slippery objects

The human hand, for all its deftness, is not great at grasping slippery stuff. A new glove aims to change that.

Animals

Octopus sleep includes a frenzied, colorful, ‘active’ stage

Four wild cephalopods snoozing in a lab had long stretches of quiet napping followed by brief bursts of REM-like sleep.

Animals

How do we know what emotions animals feel?

Animal welfare researchers are studying the feelings and subjective experiences of horses, octopuses and more.

Paleontology

This ancient sea reptile had a slicing bite like no other

Right up until 66 million years ago, the sea was a teeming evolutionary laboratory with a small, agile, razor-toothed mosasaur patrolling the waters.

Paleontology

This ichthyosaur died after devouring a creature nearly as long as itself

Ichthyosaurs, marine reptiles generally thought to munch on soft prey like cephalopods, may have chowed down on fellow big marine reptiles, too.

Animals

‘Phallacy’ deflates myths about the penises of the animal kingdom

By touring nature’s many penises, Phallacy author Emily Willingham puts the human organ in its place.