Discoveries
05.03.2016

The Lobster and its Amazing Noses

Enter the world of the lobster and witness the invisible signals that guide these creatures through life on the ocean floor.

Lobsters are among the most sensitive smellers on the planet. “Walking noses,” that’s what ecologist Paul Moore calls them. Covered head-to-claw with chemical receptors, lobsters can smell and taste across nearly every portion of their segmented bodies. These animals live their lives guided by the invisible chemical signals they encounter. Smells and tastes enable them to navigate and find food, while pheromones help them attract mates. And for one-on-one communication, they take a more direct approach: a jet of urine straight to the face.

Annette Heist, Ruth Lichtman, and Flora Lichtman

Annette Heist is a science writer, radio producer, and a registered nurse working in behavioral health. Ruth Lichtman is a multi-disciplinary visual artist and filmmaker whose work has been featured on The New York Times, The Atlantic, Aeon, and The Huffington Post. Flora Lichtman is a science journalist who has worked for “Bill Nye Saves the World” on Netflix, The New York Times, and Science Friday. She hosts a podcast called Every Little Thing.

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