From the Editor | May 2024

In 2021, both in this magazine and on the National Geographic channel, we kicked off our Secrets of series—which takes a closer look at superstars of the animal kingdom. Secrets of the Whales brought you deep into the ocean to encounter the behaviors of these extraordinary marine mammals. Last year we showcased elephants—majestic, highly intelligent, and resilient in the face of many challenges.

This year in Secrets of the Octopus, we're back to the sea but with a very different creature. The first time an octopus really caught my attention was in 2008, when Otto became a news sensation. At an aquarium in Germany, he was throwing rocks at the sides of his tank and squirting water at the light above it to short-circuit the electrical system. Staff at the aquarium described Otto as "bored," and frankly, who among us wouldn't be in his situation?

Science has discovered a lot about these incredible invertebrates in recent years. They're masters of camouflage, devoted parents, and problem-solving wizards. This is just the start of what you'll learn in these pages. If our feature leaves you wanting more, be sure to check out Secrets of the Octopus, streaming on Disney+.

I hope you enjoy the issue.

Read about octopuses from National Geographic's May issue here:

Test Your Octo-Smarts

8 fascinating facts about octopuses—from their supersmarts to their favorite foods

An octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret world

Alex Schnell demystifies what humans know about octopuses