Science Sunday: Cephalopods Are the New Dinosaurs: A Squid’s-Eye View of the History of Life

Before there were mammals on land, there were dinosaurs. And before there were fish in the sea, there were cephalopods - Earth’s first truly substantial animals and the ancestors of modern squid. With dozens of tentacles and formidable shells, they presided over an undersea empire for millions of years.

Join scientist and writer Danna Staaf for a reprise of last year’s popular talk, complete with the latest news about “alien octopuses” and ancient ammonites trapped in amber. Stay for a signing of Staaf’s book Squid Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Cephalopods, which was named one of the best science books of 2017 by NPR Science Friday.