Paul the Octopus has predicted Spain will triumph over Holland and Germany will beat Uruguay in World Cup
Friday 9, July 2010
Paul the Psychic Octopus has predicted Spain will triumph over Holland to lift the famous Jules Rimet trophy. Paul has also predicted Germany will beat Uruguay on Saturday, taking third place in the World Cup.
Early life
Paul was hatched from an egg at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, England, and in 2006 was moved to a tank at Sea Life Oberhausen, a commercial attraction in Germany. Paul's name was taken from the title of a poem by the German children's writer Boy Lornsen: Der Tintenfisch Paul Oktopus. According to Sea Life's entertainment director, Daniel Fey, Paul demonstrated intelligence early in life:
"There was something about the way he looked at our visitors when they came close to the tank. It was so unusual, so we tried to find out what his special talents were."
The animal rights organisation PETA claimed that Paul's confinement causes him suffering, and that he should be set free, but Sea Life responded by stating that such a release would be dangerous for Paul, who is not accustomed to finding food for himself.
Oracle
In the lead-up to Germany's international football matches, Paul is presented with two clear plastic boxes, each containing food: a mussel or an oyster. Each container is marked with the flag of a team, one the flag of Germany, and the other the flag of Germany's opponent. The flag on the box chosen by the octopus is interpreted as being the flag of the predicted winning country.[5] Paul was first used as an oracle during UEFA Euro 2008, when he correctly predicted the outcome of 4 out of 6 of Germany's matches, but failed to predict their defeats to Croatia in the group stage and to Spain in the championship's final. Paul's accurate predictions for the 2010 World Cup, broadcast live by German news channel NTV, have endowed him with celebrity status.
Criticisms
Shelagh Malham of Bangor University states that individuals of the species Octopus vulgaris can distinguish brightness, and are drawn to horizontal shapes. According to Janet Voight at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, there is no evidence that octopuses have colour vision.[8] Octopus vulgaris is equipped with sensitive taste receptor cells, and biologist Volker Miske, of the University of Greifswald, suggests that minor chemical differences on the surface of each box might account for Paul's decisions.[9] Professor Chris Budd of the University of Bath and Professor David Spiegelharter of Cambridge University both attribute Paul's ability to "predict" the winning team to chance.
2010 FIFA World Cup
Paul has predicted the winners of each of the six 2010 FIFA World Cup matches the German team has played so far, against Australia, Serbia (which Germany lost), Ghana, England, Argentina, and Spain.
Paul correctly predicted the outcome of the semi final, by choosing the box marked with the Spanish flag. German supporters drew hope from his incorrect choice for the Germany versus Spain match in the UEFA Euro 2008, but this time they were disappointed. The prediction led to death threats as German fans called for Paul to be cooked and eaten. In response, Spanish prime minister Jose Zapatero jokingly offered to send Paul official state protection, and the Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian called for Paul to be given safe haven in Spain.
Results
Australia Germany Correct
Serbia Germany Correct
Ghana Germany Correct
England Germany Correct
Argentina Germany Correct
Spain Germany Correct
Predictions
Paul the Psychic Octopus has predicted Spain will triumph over Holland to lift the famous Jules Rimet trophy. Paul has also predicted Germany will beat Uruguay on Saturday, taking third place in the World Cup.
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