I wonder if that afforded some level of protection to the surface dwellers' receptors when in direct contact with high levels of sunlight.
this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2025
1 points (100.0% liked)
Science Memes
16383 readers
282 users here now
Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!
A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.
Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Wonder what would happen if an octopus looked directly at the sun
I have heard the theory that it evolved this way for higher UV protection that was not needed in underwater organisms. Curious if it was really that much of a competitive advantage though.
Edit: okay more recent studies show not so much protection but basically filtering and redirecting light so out eyes can see better color on land. See this comment: https://lemmy.world/comment/18892927
If vertebrae don't have it, it means they don't need it.
I am biology illiterate. Explanation please.
Scallops, oysters, mussels and clams have anywhere between 40 and 200 eyes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollusc_eye
Cephalopod precursors evolved eyes and then brains developed from the eye so their eye is structured correctly.
Vertebrate precursors evolved the brian first and the eye evolved out the brain as a sensory stub. So it's upside down and inside out like in picture.
The nerve cluster goes through the back of the eye splits and folds back to end in light receptors. Light hase to go through the nerves before hitting the sensor.
There is even a reflective layer after the sensors that gives the sensors a second chance at picking up the light. This is what causes the red eye or green eye you sometimes see in flash photography.
It would require a genetic rebuild to fix this and the intermediate steps evolution usually use would be so disadvantageous they are selected against. So the right combo of mutations to give us a working octopus eye is VERY unlikely to happen.
Hypothetically, what would be the advantages of "correcting" this evolutionary mistake in humans?
I believe no blind spot, which is the place where all the nerves bundle together and pass through the sensing layer, leaving a hole in our vision (the brain works hard to hide this hole from our perception, but it’s still there and can cause accidents) Also maybe better vision in general?
No blind spot and better light detection. The light having to pass through the nerves causes a lot to be lost.
load more comments
(1 replies)
Is this at all related to why the part of the brain that does visual processioning is way in the back? Or is that a dumb question
load more comments
(6 replies)
load more comments
(1 replies)
Shit just evolves. It doesn't evolve correctly or incorrectly.
Evolution likes local maxima. Getting out of them is difficult. That's what the OOP meant with "evolution was powerless to correct it".
Getting out of local maxima means you first have to go with a worse setup until you get to a new, better local maxima. That's why evolution doesn't really do that all that often and instead prefers small optimizations.
(I use "like" and "prefer" not to say that evolution has goals or emotions, but to say that that's what the "algorithm" of evolution leads to.)
That explains the platypus.
Or as an old classmate told me in college: the platypus is proof that nature has a sense of humor.