Rogue taxonomists, competing lists and accusations of anarchy: the complicated journey toward a list of all life on Earth — podcast

Stephen Garnett takes us inside a scientific spat about how to govern the naming of new species. Listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast.

Gemma Ware, Editor and Co-Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
Feb. 1, 2024 • ~3 min

Biologists discovered a new species of tiny owl on the forested island of Príncipe, and it's already under threat – Podcast

A local legend of a mysterious bird with big eyes grew into the discovery of the Príncipe scops owl. A biologist on the team tells the story of finding and cataloging this new species.

Daniel Merino, Associate Science Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation • conversation
Feb. 27, 2023 • ~4 min

Scientists discover five new species of black corals living thousands of feet below the ocean surface near the Great Barrier Reef

Black corals provide critical habitat for many creatures that live in the dark, often barren, deep sea, and researchers are learning more about these rare corals with every dive.

Jeremy Horowitz, Post-doctoral Fellow in Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
Nov. 23, 2022 • ~6 min

How we discovered three new species of penguin in the Southern Ocean

The discovery that gentoo penguins are actually four distinct species has important implications for their conservation.

Jane Younger, Research Fellow, Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath • conversation
Nov. 5, 2020 • ~6 min

We discovered a new species, but war means it may now remain hidden forever

The extraordinary story of a stingray, its discovery and its uncertain fate in the Yemen war.

Alec Moore, Post-Doctoral Fisheries Scientist, Bangor University • conversation
July 23, 2020 • ~6 min

We've just discovered two new shark species – but they may already be threatened by fishing

Scientists thought there was only one sixgill sawshark species – until now.

Andrew Temple, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Marine Biology, Newcastle University • conversation
March 18, 2020 • ~6 min

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