Latest news with #octopuses
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
TikTok is losing it over real-life octopus cities
Remember when the internet cried actual tears for an anglerfish earlier this year? Now, TikTok has a new deep-sea obsession. Brought to light by creator and wildlife biologist Josh Allyn, TikTok has recently discovered 'Octopolis' and 'Octlantis'—two real underwater sites off the coast of Australia where gloomy octopuses have been quietly building their own cities and complex societies. 'I'm kinda pissed right now, was nobody going to tell me that octopuses are creating their own underwater cities?' he said in a video posted last week. It has since gone viral with 13 million views at the time of writing. 'I had to find out through Instagram Reels, what the hell.' This isn't a new discovery. Once thought to be solitary creatures, gloomy octopuses (named for their downcast eyes rather than their mood) were first seen living communally in 2009, when diver Matthew Lawrence discovered the original octopus 'city' in Jervis Bay, Australia. Home to 16 octopuses, it was dubbed 'Octopolis.' Then, in 2017, a group of researchers including Lawrence, discovered another site with a similar social arrangement among the gloomy octopuses just a few hundred metres from 'Octopolis'. They dubbed it 'Octlantis.' At both sites, octopuses were observed sculpting dens from piles of clam and scallop shells, socializing, bickering, and even 'evicting' one another. As one Reddit user joked in a 2022 thread about the phenomenon: 'Octopus landlords? octopus rent? octopus homeowner's associations? I swear, if octopi reinvent capitalism, I'll be so disappointed.' Now TikTok has discovered these octopus cities, the content writes itself. As well as being fodder for AI slop, some have turned the cephalopods' society into viral skits. 'You're soooo early we just learned about octopolis,' one commented under comedian Vinny Thomas's post. 'I can't wait to understand this in 30 minutes'. So why is something discovered over a decade ago trending again now? Thomas has a theory: 'We're all in this moment fixating on it because we're so desperate. We're so desperate to imagine that there's a society somewhere where they've got it all figured out,' he explained in another post. 'The octopuses are just down there butt-ass naked, eating crabs, living it up. Meanwhile, we are not doing great. I think we are just desperate for that little ounce of hope.' He added, 'Maybe it's alright with the octopuses.' Still, in the era of generative AI and 'AI slop,' some viewers— scarred by past hoaxes like trampoline bunny-gate—want hard evidence before getting emotionally attached to Octopolis and Octlantis. Good news: This time, the octopus cities are very real.
Sustainability Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
"This Is The Creature That Will Rule Earth" The Animal Destined To Dominate After Human Extinction Will Shock You
IN A NUTSHELL 🦑 Scientists speculate that octopuses could become dominant after human extinction due to their intelligence and adaptability. could become dominant after human extinction due to their intelligence and adaptability. 🌊 Octopuses have the potential to transition from marine to terrestrial environments, enhancing their evolutionary prospects. have the potential to transition from marine to terrestrial environments, enhancing their evolutionary prospects. 🧠 Their advanced problem-solving skills and decentralized nervous system make them suitable for thriving in a post-human world. and decentralized nervous system make them suitable for thriving in a post-human world. 🌍 The rise of octopuses challenges traditional ideas about evolutionary successors and highlights the need for environmental stewardship. Amid growing concerns about the future of humanity, scientists are exploring scenarios in which other species might rise to prominence. Among these unexpected contenders is the octopus, a marine species whose intelligence and adaptability have captured the attention of researchers. With the potential for transitioning from water to land, octopuses present a fascinating case for evolutionary successors in a world without humans. This idea challenges traditional notions that focus primarily on mammals or primates as future rulers of Earth. What is it about octopuses that makes them such intriguing candidates for dominance in a post-human world? Octopuses: A Marine Species Eyeing Land The concept of humanity's potential demise has been a topic of discussion among scientists studying collapsology. This field examines various scenarios that could lead to the downfall of human civilization, including environmental disasters, nuclear conflicts, or other catastrophic events. In such futures, octopuses might emerge as a dominant species. According to a 2024 article in the Oxford Mail, the intelligence of octopuses positions them as strong contenders for this role. Timothy Coulson, a professor of zoology at the University of Oxford, theorizes that octopuses could evolve over time to become terrestrial creatures. These cephalopods already exhibit the ability to breathe outside of water for short durations, indicating a potential evolutionary path towards becoming land dwellers. Their cognitive abilities, evidenced by problem-solving skills and object manipulation, set them apart in the animal kingdom. In a world without humans, the octopus's exceptional adaptability offers a distinct advantage over many other species. 'NASA Says We're on the Brink': Alarming New Report Reveals Imminent Emergency Crash Risk for the Entire Space Station A Future Civilization-Building Species? Timothy Coulson suggests that the octopus's ability to solve complex problems, manipulate objects, and camouflage with precision could enable them to develop into a civilization-building species. Their advanced neural structure and decentralized nervous system make them particularly suited for surviving in an unpredictable world. These traits could allow octopuses to exploit new ecological niches and adapt to a changing planet, especially in the absence of human influence. Coulson posits that genetic mutations may occur as octopuses spend more time outside the water. Over millions of years, these changes could allow them to transition from marine to terrestrial environments permanently. This hypothesis challenges the common assumption that primates or large apes would naturally succeed humans as the dominant species. However, British researchers point out that these mammals, like humans, are highly vulnerable to certain phenomena, especially climate change. There is even a possibility that primates could vanish from Earth before humans. 'The US admits 'we're jealous of France'': Unthinkable wealth beneath their feet as France uncovers $92 billion hydrogen goldmine, the world's largest reserve Challenges and Implications for Evolutionary Successors The idea that octopuses could become the next dominant species is both intriguing and contentious. It raises questions about the criteria used to determine a species' potential for dominance. Traditionally, intellectual capacity and physical prowess have been key factors. However, the octopus's decentralized nervous system and unique problem-solving capabilities suggest that adaptability and innovation might also play crucial roles. As humans continue to impact the environment, the resilience and flexibility of a species become increasingly vital. Octopuses, with their ability to adapt to new challenges, exemplify these qualities. Their potential to transition from marine to terrestrial environments highlights the dynamic nature of evolution. This shift could redefine our understanding of intelligence and adaptability in the animal kingdom. 'I Was Convinced We'd Found Aliens': Scientists Backtrack on K2-18b Breakthrough Before Revealing the Devastating Truth Reevaluating Humanity's Role in the Ecosystem The prospect of octopuses as future rulers of Earth invites reflection on humanity's current role in the ecosystem. Our actions have far-reaching consequences, often disrupting natural habitats and threatening biodiversity. As the dominant species, humans have a responsibility to mitigate these impacts and consider the long-term viability of our planet. This contemplation also underscores the importance of preserving the diversity of life on Earth. By fostering environments where various species can thrive, we contribute to a more balanced and resilient ecosystem. The potential rise of octopuses serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of life and the unforeseen paths evolution may take in response to environmental pressures. The idea of octopuses becoming the next dominant species challenges our understanding of evolution and dominance. It prompts us to consider what qualities truly define a species' potential for success. As we ponder the future, one question remains: How can we, as stewards of the planet, ensure a sustainable and harmonious coexistence with other species in a rapidly changing world? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (27)
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Octopuses Fall For The Classic Fake Arm Trick – Just Like We Do
Octopuses can be fooled into thinking a fake arm is actually their own. When scientists in Japan pinched an artificial appendage during experiments, octopuses recoiled in defense – swimming away, suddenly changing their color, or retracting their arms, as if they'd really been hurt. The reaction is not proof that cephalopods are dim-witted or easily tricked – quite the contrary. The findings are a first and they suggest that octopuses are highly intelligent creatures that feel a sense of responsibility over their appendages. Related: Even we humans fall for the body transfer illusion, which is used to study an animal's sense of body ownership. The trick was originally reported in our own species in 1998, and more recently in monkeys and mice. Now, it seems invertebrates can be fooled too. That's remarkable, as octopus arms are controlled by a nervous system like no other. "Our findings suggest, like humans, octopuses have a multisensory representation of their body," the study authors conclude. To figure out how octopuses feel about their own bodies, animal behavior scientists Sumire Kawashima and Yuzuru Ikeda of the University of the Ryukyus placed plain-body night octopuses (Callistoctopus aspilosomatis) in a tank for a series of experiments. During the trials, one of the octopus arms was hidden from sight by a screen. A fake arm made of soft gel was then placed in front of the screen. Scientists stroked both the fake limb and the hidden limb simultaneously. Immediately after, researchers pinched the fake arm. Within seconds, the octopus responded as if it had been attacked, though it wasn't physically hurt. That might seem like an overreaction, but even humans who are prepared can fall for this trick. If one of our hands is placed behind a screen and a fake hand placed in front, we can be made to 'feel' the fake hand. Our brains are essentially fooling us into thinking the touch we are feeling on our real hand is related to the touch we are seeing. Once that link is established, our brain automatically takes ownership of the fake hand. If we see the fake hand being prodded, then we also feel it. The reason we fall for this illusion is complicated, but essentially, it's because our brains are exceptional at rapidly integrating perceptions of touch, vision, and proprioception (which is the sense of where our bodies are in space). Octopus brains are apparently also skilled in this respect. These marine mollusks have extremely flexible, incredibly dexterous arms, with approximately 500 million neurons running through each. All eight limbs can make decisions independent of the brain, and they can even 'taste' with their finger-like suckers. Similar to humans, however, it seems that the octopus brain also prefers visual information over other senses, like touch, taste, or proprioception. This makes it possible for the creature to adopt a limb they see that isn't actually theirs. "These results suggest that the basic perceptual rules that determine body ownership in octopuses are similar to those of mammals," argue Kawashima and Ikeda. "These findings in the octopus, which has a complex nervous system that has developed independently of vertebrates, may be an important model for studying the evolution of the sense of body ownership." The correspondence was published in Current Biology. Related News Bone-Eating Worms Have Lurked in The Ocean For 100 Million Years Ancient Voice Box Finally Reveals How Dinosaurs May Have Sounded Stunning Grand Canyon Fossils Reveal Evolution's Weird Experiments Solve the daily Crossword
