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Quiz: How much do you know about squids?

Take our squids squiz.

THERE ARE SQUIDS in space.

You heard me. Squids in space. Don’t be alarmed, it’s not an unexpected or concerning development – Nasa has sent dozens up to the International Space Station.

The goal is to see whether they eventually overthrow their human masters, take control of the station, create a makeshift engine, and set a course for their true home in interstellar space. But will they succeed? Only time will tell.

While we wait, let’s test your knowledge.

Okay but what's the real reason why squids were sent to space?
NASA via Jamie S. Foster, University of Florida
For fun.
To study the impact of zero gravity on the squid's natural bacteria. Studies found that the microbes of human astronauts are negatively impacted by spaceflight.

For food - squids reproduce very rapidly and require very little food, and so could be used as an infinite food source on long space journeys.
For combat.
Are squids and octopuses the same thing?
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Yes, one is found in the ocean, the other in the sea.
No, a squid is a crustacean and an octopus is a mollusc.

No, but they're both cephalopods.
Yes, but squids don't shoot ink at predators.
Can some squids glow using bioluminescence?
Shutterstock
Yes
No
Now for some nightmare fuel. Colossal squids lurk in the deepest depths of the oceans around Antarctica, but how much did the largest specimen captured alive weigh?
Wikimedia
Nothing! Because they don't actually exist.
495kg

2,250kg
6kg
But how do we know they can grow much bigger?
Wikimedia
One was caught on camera capsizing a ship, an act that would have required a much heavier body weight.
The specimen discovered only had 15 tentacles, meaning it was still an adolescent.

Notes found in the captured squid's belongings indicated that it was taking a bodybuilding course.
Intact squid beaks have been found in the stomach of sperm whales that are larger than that of the specimen captured.
What is the culinary name for squid?
Shutterstock
Scampi
Scallop

Calamari
Free-range octopus
How many hearts do squid have?
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One
Three

Absolutely loads
None
How do squids move?
Shutterstock
Jet propulsion
They drag themselves along the seafloor using their tentacles

I don't know, like the same way other fish move? They wiggle and use their fins? Look, I haven't really thought about how exactly fish swim before.
They use a spinning motion to "drill" through the water.
A giant squid was caught off the coast of Ireland back in 2017 - but where exactly?
Shutterstock
Wexford Harbour
Dublin Bay

Off the coast of Dingle (by Fungie)
Off the coast of Dingle (not by Fungie)
When are the space squid coming home?
Shutterstock
July
Never - they will be a permanent presence on the International Space Station

Never - they will all die before the end of the year (RIP)
Whenever they feel like it
Answer all the questions to see your result!
Wikimedia
You scored out of !
You are architeuthis dux, the giant squid
Share your result:
Shutterstock
You scored out of !
You are the objectively cute Berry's bobtail squid
Share your result:
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You scored out of !
You are an octopus, the well-meaning cousin of the squid
Share your result:
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You scored out of !
You are a sperm whale, arch-enemy of the giant squid
Share your result:
Shutterstock
You scored out of !
You are a plate of calamari
Share your result:

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15 Comments
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    Mute John Jones
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:49 AM

    Mattress amnesty- they’re taking the Mick.

    181
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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:42 AM

    @John Jones:
    He’ll be OK. His compadres will spring him.

    37
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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:29 AM

    Would make more sense if it was a collection service for those who have no way of transporting bulky items like mattresses .

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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:14 AM

    only clean mattresses. ..the problem is it’s old &dirty mattresses people want to get rid of

    175
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    Mute Ivan Connolly
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 7:03 AM

    This kind of innovative thinking makes me proud to be Irish. I couldn’t even imagine a better way to blow €200,000. Unless of course we spent it providing everyone with a little of the same drugs Naughton is taking. The whole thing might make a bit more sense then to everyone else who might have thought it was a brain fart of an idea that should never have made it past the underpants naughton should be wearing on his head.

    104
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    Mute Gavin R
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:20 AM

    Mattress amnesty I’m really confused.

    62
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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:50 AM

    Mick is turning himself in – for crimes against advertising.

    38
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    Mute Louise Tracey
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 6:30 AM

    Any locations in Cork?

    24
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    Mute Noel Martin
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:18 AM

    I forked out €90 for 3 single mattresses at my local amenity centre, no wonder there being illegally dumped on a regular basis

    41
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    Mute Eoin Scanlon
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:21 AM

    @Noel Martin: you think they’re cheap for the council to get rid of? They’d half fill a skip. Not an excuse to illegally dump.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:38 AM

    @Noel Martin: the more people are charged the more they will dump, when will this get through to the thick FG mind?

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    Mute Gavin R
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:43 AM

    @Noel Martin: I can see a mattress levy been introduced on all new mattresses, there putting it on everything else.

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    Mute Shoot Thepiano
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:04 AM

    Oh give it a rest and put this issue to bed

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:50 PM

    @Shoot Thepiano: very true. Important to sleep on it when making decisions like this

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    Mute Chris Mansfield
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:45 AM

    I’m sure the people who manage to find a way to transport mattresses to dump them in remote rural locations can find a way to transport them to an amenity centre.

    28
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    Mute Andy mc Laughlin
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 4:24 PM

    In Australia they have a kerb collection once a year where you can put out what you normally can’t get rid off and the council picks it up works quiet well

    19
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    Mute Kath Noonan
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 12:52 PM

    Mattresses being dumped illegally are done so for a reason. Accepting only clean dry mattresses won’t solve dumping. All mattresses no matter what condition should be accepted.

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    Mute wattsed
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:57 AM

    Reactionary decision, should’ve slept on it.

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    Mute Siobhan Rosemary
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:21 AM

    They are probably collecting the mattress for their homeless hubs!

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    Mute Reuben Gray
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 9:41 AM

    I don’t get it. One can break down a mattress in about 15 minutes with a stanley blade and cutters. Once the springs are cut apart, the mattress doesn’t take up much space.

    Standard mattress of course, one of those memory foam ones would be a very different story.

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    Mute Jane Alford
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:27 AM

    Where, apart from Tuam, are the Galway collections? I could do N.Tipp too…

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    Mute Jane Alford
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 11:30 AM

    @Jane Alford: bummer. It was on Saturday. Journal on the spot as usual…

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 3:30 PM

    Why do it during the Summer? They should wait until Spring comes.

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    Mute John Walsh
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 12:43 PM

    What sort of people dump mattresses? A joke. What about a dog crap amnesty while they are at it.

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    Mute Data Backup
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    Mar 6th 2023, 1:40 PM

    the going rate is 50 euro to remove a mattress , this is the reason they are dumped and cause litter problems across the country they should have a markup to recycle , http://www.mattressmonkey.ie

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    Mute The PURGED
    Favourite The PURGED
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 3:50 PM

    I hear they would make good flower beds lol

    1
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