Subscribe to Science Friday
Put on your party hat and wet suit because it is Cephalopod Week, Science Friday’s annual celebration of all things, octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish. To kick things off, we’re bringing you an ode to the octopus arm. You may have heard that octopuses can use their arms to “taste” their surroundings, which they use for finding food. Now, researchers have unlocked a key mechanism in the octopus sensory system. Octopuses use their suckers to detect harmful microbes on the surface of crab shells or even their own eggs.
Host Flora Lichtman talks with molecular biologist Nicholas Bellono about the latest in octopus sensory science.
Further Reading
- Join the cephalo-bration and read more about our favorite many-armed friends on our Cephalopod Week spotlight page!
Sign Up For The Week In Science Newsletter
Keep up with the week’s essential science news headlines, plus stories that offer extra joy and awe.
Segment Guests
Nicholas Bellono
Dr. Nicholas Bellono is a professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Segment Transcript
The transcript is being processed. It will be available 2-3 days after this story’s publication date.
Meet the Producers and Host
About Shoshannah Buxbaum
Shoshannah Buxbaum is a producer for Science Friday. She’s particularly drawn to stories about health, psychology, and the environment. She’s a proud New Jersey native and will happily share her opinions on why the state is deserving of a little more love.
About Flora Lichtman
Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.