Annie McEwen reports that Bruce Robison and Yan Wang offered two possible reasons, and neither is confirmed. The very cold water a mile down may slow every biological process, including egg development. A harsh deep-sea habitat may also favor young that hatch highly developed. The scientists also do not know whether Octomom was typical of her species or an outlier, because she is the only one ever watched brooding.
Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Radiolab (2026-10-23). Read the whole episode summary →