Axolotles and tardigrades may hold the record for fastest time between “a what?” and “omgtellmeeverything”. These seemingly mythical marvels are two of my favorites, so I brought back a previous octopus story to complete this “cool creatures issue”.

-Steve

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Brain Builder

Axolotls are so smart, they can regrow their brains. Researchers mapped the telencephalon region, then removed a section to learn exactly how these dragon-like salamanders regenerate brain tissue.

• Telencephalon has a large impact on animal behavior/cognition

• Phase 1: Specialized progenitor cells begin healing

• Phase 2: Those cells turn into neuroblasts (newly discovered in axolotl)

Regeneration is completed in phase three, when those neuroblasts turn into the exact neurons that were removed. Learning how these slippery salamanders build their brains back could lead to advances in regenerative medicine research.

Extra brains? More like “ask-a-lot-ls”

Thirsty Bears

A lot of bears hibernate, water bears just do it when they’re dehydrated. Scientists recently learned more about how tardigrades survive years without water.

• Tardigrade = micro-animals that survive in extreme environments up to 10 yrs.

• Enter “tun” (suspended animation) when facing life-threatening conditions

• Unique CAHS proteins form gel-like filaments to support cell structure

Those filaments put everything on pause until the tardigrades’ next sip of water. Researchers spliced some of these CAHS proteins into human and insect cells, hopefully leading to improved organ and vaccine storage in the future.

Teddy bears do not share this feature, trust me

Mystery Organs

Some octopus species shed hundreds of organs as they age. The purpose of these Kölliker's Organs (KO) is currently a mystery. 

• KO cover the entire octopus and “bloom” into circular shapes

• Full KO bloom = 66% increase in surface area

• Not known to exist on deep sea octopuses

Currently stumped biologists theorize that KO either assist the octopus in swimming during infancy or act as a predator deterrent. The temporary organs refract light which could alter how they appear to hungry foes and people that watched My Octopus Teacher. 

OK KO = Oklahoma octopus

Clickables 

• Fly away with award winning drone photography

• Baby stars from Webb’s Tarantula

• Who wins: cyborg cockroaches or T-800?

• Diamonds made from recycled plastic

• Symbiote pockets, for carrying life’s necessities

st3v on site

Slack Channel 

Tardigrades use dehydration powers to hold grudges, but have a weakness for seltzer water.

Thank you for reading!

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