AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
Despite some theories suggesting species discovery is slowing, research indicates new species are being found at an accelerating rate. While about 2.5 million species are known, estimates suggest tens of millions more remain undiscovered. Discovering new species is crucial, impacting human health through natural product-inspired medicines, like weight-loss drugs derived from Gila monster hormones. Nature also inspires technological innovation, such as gecko-inspired adhesives. Fifteen percent of all known species have been discovered in the last 20 years, highlighting the vast unknown biodiversity and its potential benefits for humanity.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
“Some scientists have suggested that the pace of new species descriptions has slowed down and that this indicates that we are running out of new species to discover, but our results show the opposite,” said John Wiens, a professor in the University of Arizona Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, in the College of Science, and senior author of the paper. “In fact, we’re finding new species at a faster rate than ever before.”
What the Data Reveal About Global Biodiversity
More Species Than Ever and Many Still Undiscovered
“As the famous ecologist Robert May said, if visiting aliens asked us how many species live on our planet, we would have no definitive answer,” said Wiens. “Right now, we know of about 2.5 million species, but the true number may be in the tens or hundreds of millions or even the low billions.”
Why Discovering New Species Matters
New discoveries also play a role in improving human health and technology. Many natural products come from living organisms, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, popular weight-loss drugs inspired by a hormone found in Gila monsters. Compounds from spider and snake venoms, along with substances produced by plants and fungi, are being studied for their potential to treat pain, cancer, and other conditions.
Beyond medicine, nature often inspires innovation. Some species have physical traits that serve as models for new materials and technologies, such as surfaces designed to mimic the “super-clinging” feet that allow geckos to scale vertical walls.
“We’re still just scratching the surface of what these species can do for humanity,” Wiens said.
Mapping the Future of Discovery
“Even though Linnaeus’ quest to identify species began 300 years ago, 15% of all known species have been discovered in just the past 20 years,” Wiens said. “So much remains unknown, and each new discovery brings us closer to understanding and protecting the incredible biodiversity of life on our planet.”
