The plant, formally known as Ovicula biradiata, is especially notable for being the simultaneous discovery of a new species and genus. It was found with help from the community science app iNaturalist.
species
A “golden age” of rat research may be here. What the often unwanted companions can teach us about us
Rat and human lives have long intersected, but there’s little relatively little research about them. Thanks to advances in genomics and paleoarcheology mean a lot more study may be on the horizon.
Once lost to science, these “uncharismatic” animals are having their moment
Historic numbers of animals across the globe have become endangered or pushed to extinction. But some of these species sit in limbo — not definitively extinct yet missing from the scientific record. Rediscovering a “lost” species is not easy. It can require trips to remote areas and canvassing a large area in search of only a handful of animals. But new technology and stronger partnerships with local communities have helped these hidden, “uncharismatic” creatures come to light.
Have other scientific gray areas you want us to cover in a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org!


