Philosopher of science Peter Godfrey-Smith(author of the “Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness”) believes that octopuses are the closest we’ll come on Earth to meeting an alien intelligence. That’s because, unlike other smart animals like chimps and kittens, their form of intelligence isn’t related to ours. But when he works closely with these creatures, he notes their curiosity can make them seem almost human.