Using a regular MP3 player, scientists observed interesting chromatophore activity

Aug 29, 2012 14:24 GMT  ·  By

Scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, were amazed to see what happens when a simple gadget like an MP3 player is worn by a Longfin Inshore Squid (loligo pealei).

The skin of the fascinating sea creature basically went “disco” as the chromatophore cells starting changing colors to the rhythm of the music.

We can’t help but be amazed by the end result of the experiment that involved an MP3 player, a suction electrode and a microscope.

The scientists reportedly cut off the ear bud of the player’s headphones and attached the small wire directly to the squid’s fin nerve.

An excellent choice of music was Cypress Hill’s 1993 hit “Insane in the Brain” and the 3 different chromatophore cells on the Longfin Inshore Squid started contracting and producing these beautiful colors.

All was filmed using an 8x microscope and if the MP3 player and headphones are quite easy to find, the necessary “disco” squid might prove quite difficult to get a hold of.

Longfin Inshore Squid Listening to an MP3 Player (2 Images)

Longfin Inshore Squid
Longfin Inshore Squid MP3 Experiment
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