Growth in species discoveries fuels hopes for new drugs

As scientists discover new species at an increasing rate, hopes are rising that compounds derived from these organisms could open up promising avenues for drug development. 

Advances in DNA sequencing help uncover Earth's biodiversity

TOKYO -- Scientists are discovering new species of plants, animals and other organisms at an ever-increasing pace, with a record 17,044 species described in 2020, the latest year for which data is available.