Brains On! Science podcast for kids · Brains On Universe

Why are octopuses so smart?

November 4, 2025·31 min·3 clips

Octopus arms contain brain cells that allow them to think and act with surprising autonomy.

This episode of Brains On! explores the intelligence and unique biology of octopuses. Guest host Rosie DuPont and co-host Izumi from Canada investigate a listener's question about why these creatures are so smart. They are joined by a character named Octavia Octopus and later interview expert Dr. Jennifer Mather. Octopuses have about 300 species, ranging from the paperclip-sized hairy octopus to the 100-pound giant Pacific octopus. Their bodies feature three hearts, blue blood, and a donut-shaped brain with an esophagus running through its center. Octopus tongues are covered in microscopic teeth, and their arms contain brain cells and suckers capable of taste. Dr. Jennifer Mather, a psychology professor at the University of Lethbridge, explains that an octopus's central brain gives general commands to its arms, which then handle the detailed movements. Dr. Mather shares that a giant Pacific octopus at the Seattle Aquarium shorted out a bothersome light by jetting water at it. In a study on play, an octopus repeatedly pushed a floating pill bottle back and forth in its tank's current at least 12 times. Octopuses exhibit distinct personalities, from shy individuals that ink and flee to outgoing ones that grab and pull at a test tube brush. They are solitary, curious animals capable of learning and solving puzzles but lack social structures or language. The episode includes a game segment detailing real octopus behaviors: an octopus named Otto disabled a tank light by squirting water, a stowaway octopus was discovered roaming an aquarium floor at night, and lab octopuses can solve progressively harder puzzles and open jars. Dr. Mather has studied octopuses for about 50 years, drawn to their complex behavior among mollusks. The tone is educational, playful, and conversational, featuring interactive segments, character voices, and listener contributions. The style is engaging for children, using humor, sound effects, and imaginative scenarios to present scientific concepts. Young science enthusiasts and animal lovers fascinated by marine biology would enjoy this episode. Listeners preferring strictly factual, adult-oriented science content might find the playful presentation less appealing.

As heard by us

An octopus episode that makes unusual anatomy easy to follow.

This octopus episode stays unusual without losing its footing. It does the best work when it turns the science plain: the brain sets broad direction, while the arms handle the finer details, and the aquarium story clicks into place when a giant Pacific octopus meets a bright…

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Why do octopus arms feel like tiny decision-makers?

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