octopus

Scientists have identified the world's third-known octopus nursery, a site where large numbers of octopus eggs and brooding females have been found on the seafloor. Only two such nurseries were previously documented, making the discovery significant for understanding octopus reproduction and deep-sea ecosystems. Researchers say the finding highlights how much of the ocean remains unexplored and is drawing wide attention from marine science audiences.

Indie developer TeaMonsterGames announced that MNOZ, the sequel to My Nuclear Octopus Game, features different arena layouts from the original. The game starts out looking similar but adds surprises as players progress. A free 16-level demo is available, and the studio is encouraging players to wishlist MNOZ on Steam ahead of release.

An octopus has three hearts, and the systemic heart that pumps blood to the body stops beating while the animal swims, making swimming exhausting. This is why octopuses prefer crawling along the seafloor. Their blood is also blue, due to a copper-based protein called hemocyanin that carries oxygen instead of the iron-based hemoglobin in humans.

Science Friday has published a roundup of its favorite cephalopods from film and television, celebrating octopuses, squids and cuttlefish as depicted in popular entertainment. The piece highlights how these intelligent, shape-shifting animals have long fascinated audiences and filmmakers alike, appearing in everything from horror and adventure stories to children's animation and documentary features.