🔊 A Squid’s Skin May Sense Sound

Researchers made the first full map of a squid’s lateral line and found hundreds more hair cells than expected, spread across the body. These cells detect movement in the surrounding water.

The hair bundles vary in length. Similar tuning in the human cochlea lets different cells respond to different frequencies. Researchers hypothesize that squid may adjust bundle length to distinguish water vibrations, making the skin work roughly like an ear.

Because these structures sit on the surface, squid could help explain how hair cells are built, maintained, and damaged in humans.

📊@tech