"Antarctic Octopus Unveils Startling Clues to West Antarctica's Demise"

Turquet's octopuses, a species found in the Southern Ocean, have provided new insights into the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Genetic analysis of octopuses from different regions revealed that they were genetically similar despite being physically separated by the ice sheet. This suggests that the octopuses migrated between the seas after the ice sheet melted during the Last Interglacial period, which occurred about 125,000 years ago. The findings raise concerns about the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the face of current global warming, as temperatures today are already similar to those during the Last Interglacial period. If the ice sheet were to collapse, it could lead to a significant rise in global sea levels.