Nicholas Bellono
Professor of molecular and cellular biology at Harvard University. Researches octopus sensory systems and molecular biology.
Best podcasts with Nicholas Bellono
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Apr 10, 2026 • 34min
Space travel alters the body, and chronic pain on the mind
Nicholas Bellono, Harvard researcher decoding octopus mating arms. Trevor Robbins, Cambridge neuroscientist probing how chronic pain reshapes the brain. Marta Favara, Oxford social scientist tracking childhood poverty across lifetimes. Kevin Fong, doctor and former NASA staffer on space medicine and bodily effects of microgravity and radiation. Short, punchy conversations on space physiology, childhood inequality, pain-related brain change, and octopus chemo-sensing.
Sep 8, 2025 • 19min
Octopuses Use Suckers To ‘Taste’ Harmful Microbes
In a fascinating discussion, Dr. Nicholas Bellono, a molecular biologist from Harvard, dives into the remarkable sensory systems of octopuses. He reveals how these creatures use their suckers not just for grabbing, but for 'tasting' their environment, especially to detect harmful microbes on crab shells. This unique ability impacts their feeding and reproductive behaviors. The conversation also touches on the intriguing sensory structures in their arms and how these adaptations redefine our understanding of octopus intelligence and interaction with their surroundings.
