A taste for microbes
Science & Tech A taste for microbes A video of a brooding octopus mother interacting with a fake egg that was doped with a microbial molecule isolated from rejected octopus egg bacteria. The mother uses her siphon to eject the egg from her clutch. Kermit Pattison Harvard Staff Writer June 20, 2025 5 min read New research reveals how the octopus uses arms to sense chemical clues from microbiomes The octopus is a creature with sensitive feelings. Most of its 500 million neurons are in its arms, which explore the seafloor like eight muscular tongues. It navigates the deep with a “taste by touch” nervous system powered by 10,000 sensory cells in each individual suction cup. Now, a new study by Harvard biologists reveals part of what the octopus is feeling — biochemical information from the microbial world. By tasting the biochemicals emitted by ever-changing bacterial communities, the animal gains information essential for survival, such as whether prey is safe...