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Axolotl: The Ultimate Regenerating Salamander
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Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 7:46 GMT by moneycontrol.com- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Ten Animals with Mysterious Abilities that Science Still Can’t Explain
Moneycontrol – Photo Gallery & Summary
In an effort to bring a little wonder into our day‑to‑day reading, Moneycontrol recently published a photo‑rich article titled “10 animals with mysterious abilities science cannot explain.” The piece pulls together a set of extraordinary creatures, each of which boasts a super‑power that has baffled researchers and captured the imagination of the public alike. Below is a concise yet comprehensive summary of the ten animals highlighted, the bizarre traits that make them stand out, and the scientific gaps that remain.
| # | Animal | The Mystery | Current Scientific Insight | The Unanswered Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) | Regenerates limbs, spinal cord, heart, and even parts of the brain | Retains its larval “neotenic” state; key genes (e.g., ALDH1) support totipotent blastema cells | Why does the axolotl not develop cancer when it regrows tissue? |
| 2 | Electric Eel (Electrophorus electricus) | Generates up to 600 V in a single discharge | Uses specialized electrocytes in a chain; controlled by a brain‑muscle circuit | How does the eel fine‑tune the voltage and target specific prey? |
| 3 | Pistol Shrimp (Alpheidae) | Snap claw produces a bubble that delivers a sonic blast, stunning prey | The claw closes in <0.2 ms, creating a cavitation bubble that collapses at ~200 °C, producing a 210‑dB sound | What exact physics govern bubble collapse in seawater, and how is energy concentrated? |
| 4 | Naked Mole‑Rat (Heterocephalus glaber) | Thrives in hypoxic, CO₂‑rich tunnels with low pain sensitivity | Lacks certain pain‑sensing TRPV1 channels; uses a unique metabolic profile that limits reactive oxygen species | What is the precise molecular basis for its extraordinary disease resistance? |
| 5 | Star‑Nosed Mole (Condylura cristata) | Nose with 22,000 tiny tactile receptors that “see” with touch | Uses a 2‑s‑long snout to scan for prey, processing signals in the somatosensory cortex | How does the mole’s brain encode such a dense sensory map? |
| 6 | Mantis Shrimp (Stomatopoda) | 12‑color vision (plus UV) and one of the fastest strikes in the animal kingdom | Strikes at ~50 m/s, breaking glass; its eyes have 16 opsin proteins | How does the mantis use its super‑vision to navigate complex reef environments? |
| 7 | Hummingbird (Trochilidae) | Can hover in mid‑air and fly backward with astonishing agility | Uses wing‑beat frequencies >80 Hz; highly efficient muscle metabolism | What exact biomechanical mechanisms allow such precise aerial control? |
| 8 | Octopus (Octopoda) | Combines intelligence, camouflage, and the ability to escape through holes smaller than its head | Neural network includes large brain, with a substantial portion of neurons in its arms | How does the octopus coordinate arm movements and memory simultaneously? |
| 9 | Deep‑Sea Anglerfish (Lophiiformes) | Bioluminescent lure to attract prey in the pitch‑black abyss | Uses symbiotic bacteria that produce light; lure grows into the head | What evolutionary pressures drove the anglerfish to fuse its prey’s mouth into its body? |
| 10 | Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) | Largest animal on Earth, deep‑diving capacity, and complex song | Can dive >500 m for over an hour; uses sound to navigate murky waters | How does its brain maintain function at such high pressures? |
1. The Axolotl – Nature’s Regenerative Powerhouse
The axolotl, native to Mexico’s Xochimilco lake, can regrow not just limbs but also complex organs such as the heart, spinal cord, and parts of its brain. The article links to several research studies and a National Geographic feature, highlighting the salamander’s neoteny—the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood. Scientists have pinpointed the role of ALDH1 genes and the blastema (a sheet of proliferating cells) that orchestrates the regrowth. Yet, paradoxically, the axolotl’s regenerative prowess does not seem to trigger cancer, raising a profound question about tumor suppression mechanisms that could translate into human medicine.
2. The Electric Eel – A Living Lightning Rod
The electric eel’s body is packed with thousands of electrocytes, stacked like batteries in a power station. According to a linked research article, these cells are modified vertebrate muscles that generate voltage differences across their membranes. While researchers understand how the eel creates shock, the precision with which it modulates voltage and targets prey remains elusive. A speculative link in the article suggests a sophisticated neural circuit that remains largely uncharted.
3. The Pistol Shrimp – Cavitation’s Shockwave
A “pistol” shrimp’s claw snaps shut in less than a millisecond, forcing a bubble to form and collapse in a flash of light and heat. The article cites a physics paper explaining how the resulting bubble can reach temperatures of 200 °C and pressure of 100 atm, producing a 210‑dB sound that can stun fish. Still, the exact mechanics of energy concentration within such a minuscule bubble—and how the shrimp harnesses it without harming itself—are still topics of active research.
4. The Naked Mole‑Rat – A Pain‑Free Pioneer
The naked mole‑rat’s subterranean lifestyle forces it to adapt to low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels. The article references a study showing that its pain receptors are missing the TRPV1 channel, making it insensitive to heat and acidic pain stimuli. Moreover, it has an exceptional resistance to oxidative stress and tumors. While scientists know the what, the how—the precise genetic and metabolic pathways that grant this immunity—are still being dissected.
5. The Star‑Nosed Mole – Touch‑Vision
The star‑nosed mole’s most striking feature is its star‑shaped nose, which houses a labyrinth of tiny tentacles. Each tentacle contains a high‑density of touch receptors, allowing the mole to "see" with touch and detect prey as fast as 0.1 seconds. The article links to an anatomical review that explains how the mole’s brain processes this data, but the exact neural coding and the mole’s ability to navigate complex underground mazes remain a puzzle.
6. The Mantis Shrimp – Vision for the Extremes
A mantis shrimp’s eyes have 16 types of photoreceptors, far beyond the 3 that humans use. The article discusses how this extraordinary vision allows the shrimp to see ultraviolet, polarized light, and a wider color spectrum. However, scientists have yet to determine how the mantis shrimp uses these colors in day‑to‑day life—whether for prey detection, communication, or camouflage—highlighting a gap between anatomical knowledge and behavioral context.
7. The Hummingbird – Aerodynamic Wonder
Hummingbirds beat their wings at up to 80 beats per second, generating lift by a combination of a double‑stroke mechanism and micro‑flapping. The article refers to a biomechanical study that models the forces at play, but the coordination of muscle fibers and the neural control that permits hovering remain areas of active investigation. Understanding this could have implications for micro‑aircraft and robotics.
8. The Octopus – An Intelligent Escape Artist
The octopus is famous for slipping through gaps as small as its beak, using its mantle and flexible body. The article references a study of its nervous system, showing that a significant portion of neurons reside in the arms, giving them semi‑autonomous control. Despite this knowledge, the octopus’s complex problem‑solving and memory retention are not fully understood, especially the extent to which its “short‑term” brain is linked to its arm “brain.”
9. The Deep‑Sea Anglerfish – The Ultimate Trap
The anglerfish’s luminous lure is produced by symbiotic bacteria. The article links to a marine biology piece explaining how the lure’s bioluminescence attracts prey in near‑darkness. Yet, the evolutionary drive behind its bizarre internal mouth (the “bioluminescent stomach”) remains a question. Why does the fish fuse captured prey into its own body, rather than digest it externally?
10. The Blue Whale – The Ultimate Pressure Test
The blue whale’s immense size allows it to dive deep and generate powerful low‑frequency songs. The article highlights a recent acoustic study showing that whales may use sound for communication across oceans. Still, the neurological impact of high pressure on a creature of its size is not fully understood. How does the whale’s brain protect itself from the crushing pressure at depth?
How the Article Connects to Broader Scientific Discourse
Moneycontrol’s piece goes beyond simple description by embedding hyperlinks to reputable sources—scientific journals, National Geographic features, and popular science outlets. These links allow the curious reader to dig deeper into the physiology, genetics, or physics underlying each animal’s mystery. Moreover, the photo gallery adds a visual layer that underscores how these traits appear in the wild, lending an almost documentary feel to the content.
The article’s value lies in its ability to present a cohesive snapshot of “wild” mysteries while acknowledging that each animal’s ability remains an active field of research. By doing so, it invites the reader to appreciate the complexities of evolution and encourages interest in the scientific process—how we observe, hypothesize, and still have many questions that science is working to answer.
Final Thoughts
The Moneycontrol gallery is a reminder that nature still holds secrets even in our modern age. Whether it’s the axolotl’s ability to regrow a heart or the pistol shrimp’s sonic boom, each creature offers a living laboratory for biologists, physicists, and engineers alike. As research progresses, some of these mysteries may be solved, but many will likely remain—proof that the natural world will always have a few more surprises in store.
Read the Full moneycontrol.com Article at:
[ https://www.moneycontrol.com/science/10-animals-with-mysterious-abilities-science-cannot-explain-photo-gallery-13717900.html ]
