Scientists teach octopuses to solve Rubik’s Cubes – now fear it’s gone too far

A team of marine biologists has successfully taught octopuses to solve Rubik’s cubes, but the breakthrough has led to unexpected consequences, with researchers now struggling to manage the creatures’ newfound obsession.

The study, conducted at a research facility off the Essex coast, was intended to explore problem-solving abilities in cephalopods. However, since introducing the puzzles, scientists have noticed an increasingly intense fixation from the octopuses — so much so that some appear to become agitated when a cube is not available.

Dr. Coral, who led the study, described the initial excitement of witnessing an octopus complete a cube for the first time.

“It was remarkable,” she said. “One of them managed to solve it in just a few minutes, and from that point on, they all became completely engrossed. We even saw them start scrambling the cubes themselves just to solve them again.”

But what began as an enrichment activity soon became a source of concern.

“We ran out of cubes one afternoon, and that’s when we realised the problem,” Dr. Coral explained. “Some of them became visibly distressed, pushing objects around their tanks as if they were looking for something else to solve.”

According to researchers, octopuses in the study have started latching onto any object resembling a puzzle, including lab equipment, food containers, and even marine life. One octopus was observed attempting to twist a crab into a cube-like formation.

One particularly intelligent specimen has also been seen carefully dismantling a waterproof camera, leading scientists to suspect it may be trying to construct a more complex puzzle for itself.

While the researchers are keen to continue studying the octopuses’ cognitive abilities, they admit that keeping them occupied has become an increasing challenge.

“They’ve moved beyond just wanting to solve the cubes. Now they want harder ones, and they get frustrated when they can’t find them,” said one researcher. “We even caught one watching tutorials on YouTube when someone left a tablet near the tank.”

Experts have urged caution when handling cephalopods in aquarium settings, warning that octopuses may soon start seeking out new challenges wherever they can find them.

“If you happen to see an octopus watching you a little too closely,” Dr. Coral added, “for the love of god, give it a Rubik’s Cube.”