Why this deep-sea squid detaches flashing arms

This squid leaves a flashing piece of itself behind

When threatened, the deep-sea squid Octopoteuthis deletron can break off glowing parts of its arms. The pieces keep moving and flashing after they separate, distracting the predator while the squid escapes.

Blond hair evolved independently in parts of the Pacific

Some people in the Solomon Islands have naturally blond hair despite having dark skin and little recent European ancestry. Researchers identified a genetic variant associated with this trait that differs from common European blond-hair variants. Similar appearances can therefore arise through different genetic changes in separate populations.

Pain from an organ can be felt somewhere else in the body

Pain from internal organs can be hard to locate and may be felt in a different place, often closer to the skin. Internal organs are very sensitive to stretching, poor blood flow, and inflammation, but can be surprisingly insensitive to cutting or burning.

Like this? There’s a whole feed of it. Replace empty scrolling with things worth knowing.

Download Hence for free

Why this deep-sea squid detaches flashing arms

This squid leaves a flashing piece of itself behind

Keep exploring