So I immediately googled because it rang an alarm bell that some octopuses would develop specialized air-breathing apparatuses — that conflicts with my basic understanding of evolution. But I wasn’t googling it to falsify, but rather to see from a more ‘objective’ source if/how this occurred.

I think it’s the same basic principle as hanging up if a relative calls you begging for money or proclaiming to be kidnapped and calling you back. The costs for double-checking incredible claims is often not that high.