Unit News

A photograph of an octopus sitting at the bottom of the tank, facing the camera with its eight arms curled around its body.

Research Update

These arms are made for loving

Study discovers how octopuses use “taste by touch” sensory system to feel out potential mates.

Image of oval squid, viewed from above on a white background

Research Update

Squid study sparks interdisciplinary insight into the physics of growth

Squid skin highlights the importance of growth on physical properties, helping researchers build a widely applicable model.

Reduced sialic acid levels help anemonefish avoid stings from sea anemones

Research Update

Marine mystery solved: How anemonefish avoid stings from their sea anemone hosts

Molecular cloaking mechanism explains iconic anemonefish-anemone partnership.

15 February 2025

Research Update

The incredible journey of clownfish larvae: Mini athletes, maximum performance

Scientists study how thyroid hormones coordinate the transformation of anemonefish larvae into adults and support their survival in the wild

Cuttlefish in tank

Research Update

Cuttlefish camouflage: more than meets the eye

High resolution video coupled with artificial intelligence reveals that camouflaging in cuttlefish is more complex than previously thought.

A stylized illustration of an octopus dreaming on a coral reef with bingata influence

Research Update

Octopus sleep is surprisingly similar to humans and contains a wake-like stage

Like humans, octopuses transition between two sleep stages – a quiet stage and an active stage that resembles REM sleep in mammals. But could this mean that octopuses dream?

Forest Project

Research Update

Four challenging OIST research projects selected for FOREST (Fusion Oriented REsearch for disruptive Science and Technology) program

OIST researchers leading projects that could lead to disruptive innovation have been awarded the prestigious FOREST grant

sam reiter podcast header

Institutional News

Uncovering the secrets of the octopus

Professor Sam Reiter, who leads the Computational Neuroethology Unit, talks neuroscience, cephalopods, and why researching camouflage is important on the latest episode of the OIST podcast.

Research Update

Cephalopods in Mind

OIST scientist probes mysterious cuttlefish brains and behaviors.

31 January 2020