For a couple of years, Inky the octopus was a popular attraction at the National Aquarium of New Zealand in Napier. Then, one morning in 2016, his tank was empty. Inky had made a daring break for free

A round-up of the strangest science stories from around the world.

How dead plants and animals decay, and how living organisms rely on this natural process to survive

A detail from “Dynamism of a Soccer Player” ...

Seeking answers to your science questions? Ask our resident expert, Peter Gallivan

One animal’s loss is a gain for hungry creatures with a taste for decay