Ira Flatow

I mean, do they have an immune system to fight off infection?

Now, I know that sea cucumbers have mouths and stomachs.

How does a zombie foot or a tentacle part stay alive while not eating?

So would you say that it's still growing?

Can you see it expanding and growing, Sarah?

Were they trying to become the whole animal again or not?

And Sarah, you know, this sounds like it was a surprising result.

So what did it take to convince you that what you thought you saw happening was actually happening?

You know, as a science reporter, we're always taught back in science reporting school to ask this question.

So I'm going to ask it because it seems relevant here.

What practical value does this research give us?

You know, I'm struck, Rachel, by in the literature calling it zombie sea cucumber parts.

It's like having fun with it.

Does that help communicate what's going on?

Sarah, are you going to be known as the zombie researcher here?

I mean, are you going to study this now?

So is somebody going to be assigned to watching how long these organisms live?

I mean, they're now, what, three years or so?

Well, I want to thank you both for taking time to be with us today.

Rachel Sippler, Senior Research Scientist in the Bigelow Laboratory.