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How many hearts does an octopus have?

Wikipedia says an octopus carries the copper-rich protein haemocyanin, which transports oxygen and gives its blood a blue colour; the quiz answer is three hearts.

On air: Hank Ledger and Chip Darnell on Best of BBN
Published 3:51 AM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: albert kok · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

▶ As it aired · Weird News

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger and Chip Darnell on this story, from Best of BBN at 3:51 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Wikipedia's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Octopus — Photo: albert kok · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

At a glance

First reported by Wikipedia: “How many hearts does an octopus have?”
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 3:51 AM ET on Best of BBN, by Hank Ledger and Chip Darnell.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WikipediaHow many hearts does an octopus have?

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe question, animals. How many hearts does an octopus have? A, one. B, two. C, three. D, eight.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOh, I know this one! It's A! I can feel it in my gut, right next to the funnel cake.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorChat, play along. You have ten seconds, and Chip has a head start on being wrong.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorMy minivan has one engine and it gets me everywhere. One heart, one octopus, done.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe other seven arms are basically cupholders. Nobody puts a heart in a cupholder.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFinal answer, A! One heart!
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe answer is C, three. Octopus blood is blue, thanks to a copper-rich protein called haemocyanin, per Wikipedia.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThree? My minivan needed a tow in a Hobby Lobby parking lot with one.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThen the octopus is the better vehicle. Blue blood and a spare heart. Your minivan has neither.

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