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From The Times
July 7, 2008

Scientists ask for a hand with octopus experiment

Octopus
Lewis Smith

Weymouth An experiment to discover which of its eight tentacles an octopus favours, or if it is octidextrous, will start today on more than 24 captive octopuses at Sea Life Centres around the country.

Just as people tend to favour one hand, scientists believe that octopuses use one tentacle more than the other seven. Items such as balls, jam jars and Lego bricks will be among the objects dropped into tanks.

Members of the public will then be asked to record which tentacle was closest to the object and which was used to touch it.

I couldn't ask for my taxes to be spent on anything more interesting. Can't wait for the results. Other investigations should be carried out into things like: Do dogs prefer lamp posts to telegraph poles? Are all fairies female? Which hand do ambidextrous scientists use to scratch their head?

Phil, Warrington, England

and when we find out the answer we shall be able to sleep at nights rather than fretting over such a vital question

peter c, devizes, wessex

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