Just as we were worried that some whales are about to become extinct, scientists have found a new species. Genetic tests confirm that the as-yet-unnamed species sighted by Japanese fishermen does indeed roam the northern Pacific Ocean. These black whales have bulbous heads and beaks like porpoises.
These stories show that sometimes it takes a bit of luck to find the next big thing. It is this serendipity of discovery that makes science so interesting. These findings also highlight just how little we know about the ocean – and our planet. If nothing else, that is reason enough to ensure that we don’t damage it.
Animal extinctions can have a negative impact on our psychological well-being, as Justin Thomas points out in his column today. But the opposite is also true – the identification of a new species is something in which we can all rejoice. And perhaps we can wonder what else is out there, in the depths of the ocean or in other remote places, awaiting discovery.
