SMRTR Science & EngineeringSep 7, 2026Nautilus

What’s Creating These Mysterious Seafloor Hexagons?

SMRTR summary

Mysterious hexagonal patterns etched into seafloors around the world, some dating back 530 million years, may finally have an explanation. A new study suggests small burrowing arthropods, similar to isopods, created the remarkably precise honeycomb shapes using their jointed legs and rigid exoskeletons. Researchers believe the hexagonal tunnels served as a colony-wide communication network, transmitting acoustic, chemical, or hydraulic signals in all directions.

SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Nautilus.

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