this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2025
83 points (79.9% liked)

science

15102 readers
52 users here now

A community to post scientific articles, news, and civil discussion.

rule #1: be kind

<--- rules currently under construction, see current pinned post.

2024-11-11

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

His answer is the octopus. What say you?

(page 2) 36 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] ME5SENGER_24@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Interesting way to spell Daleks. EXTERMINATE!!

[–] Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Serious question:

How difficult is it for octopus to change via evolution so it becomes more like a primate?

They can already breathe on land for up to an hour.

I think they just need a few key mutations to live longer and nurture their young.

Fun fact: octopuses* respond to MDMA, and become social and cuddly. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/scientists-gave-octopuses-some-molly-heres-what-happened

I seem to recall a similar story where drug exposure reversed the octopus's usual behavior of simply waiting for death after mating, but I couldn't find a reference from a quick search so perhaps I am misremembering this story, about the biological mechanisms behind that behavior: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-close-in-on-why-octopuses-tragically-destroy-themselves-after-mating

[–] wabafee@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

It will be dolphin people!

He's been saying that since before The Future is Wild and his Squibbons.

[–] hark@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 4 days ago

Why would even be a next "dominant single species", like humans?

Out of the billions of alive organisms that had ever been on earth only humans have human intelligence. It doesn't seem like a common trait for any organism.

I think that humans are just some weird anomaly. Once we are gone there will probably not be any other intelligent species for a while, if forever.

[–] rayquetzalcoatl@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago
[–] MelonYellow@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 days ago

I think they could become dominant if they acquired language. Maybe do some crazy sign language with their 8 tentacles. Also their short lifespan could be overcome if they worked together as a group or a hivemind, like the way ants do.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world -2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

None? We have millions of years head start. No creature will replace us unless we obliterate ourselves.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›