A Rubik's Cube Could Tell Us Which Arm Is an Octopus' Favorite

Humans, for the most part, are either right-handed or left handed. But how do you find out if an eight-armed creature has a preferred limb? You give it a Rubik's Cube. Today, marine biologists from Sea Life Centres, a group of aquatic attractions scattered across Europe, will begin a month-long observation of the octopus' grabbing habits. By throwing toys—including Rubik's Cubes—and food into the tank, the researchers hope to see whether octopuses favor one arm or one side of their body when reaching for things, or whether they are in fact "octidextrous" and have no preference. Aquarium visitors can help the research, too. Signs posted next to the tanks show a diagram of the octopus with each of its eight appendages labeled, and the biologists want visitors to write down which limb they see the sea creature use to clutch its food or its toy. The researcher team, led by ...