“We developed a method of showing video to an octopus, which was the first time this has been successful with any cephalopod.”

Renata Pronk, of Macquarie University in Sydney, tells the BBC why it’s useful for researchers to have octopuses that can watch television in their labs and how this can be used to show their ‘episodic personalities’.

“To diversify the STEM fields we must take a hard look at the stereotypes and biases that still pervade our culture. Encouraging more girls and women to enter these vital fields will require careful attention to the environment in our classrooms and workplaces and throughout our culture.”

The American Association of University Women’s Why So Few? report finds stereotypes are still holding back women in science (report, NYT coverage).

“We welcome interactions with industry that are positive and collaborative. But where I think the line should not be crossed and where we are not going to allow our full-time or part-time faculty to engage is in marketing.”

Philip Pizzo, dean of Stanford medical school, tells the New York Times why the school is banning even volunteer teaching staff from giving speeches paid for by drug companies.

“Paleontologists have stumbled across a scientific first that’s sure to inspire both fascination and disgust: coprolites, or fossilized fecal matter, bearing the distinct impressions of a creature’s teeth.”

Wired discusses how a crocodilian turd came to have shark teeth marks on it.