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Name a New Species Contest
by monique t
News / November 04, 2005
Kids across Canada and the U.S. are invited to name a new species.
What is the new species?
Currently, 1.7 million species have been identified on Earth but scientists estimate the total number of species at 5 million to 10 million.
The new species to be named was found in the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This microbe is part of a group of organisms called extremophiles, so named because of their ability to survive in extreme environmental conditions that would kill humans in seconds flat. More specifically, this organism is classified as a halophile or salt-loving microorganism because it thrives in water ten times saltier than the sea.
The new species was identified in 2004 by 21 year-old college student Ashlee Allred, part of a team of scientists--led by American biochemist Dr. Bonnie Baxter--who are doing research on life in extreme environments, on Earth and other planets.
Name a New Species Contest
Contest runs: November 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006
Open to Canadians and Americans, ages 7 to 15
Winner will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2006
For full details visit the Maple Tree Press Contest pages.
The Book: Strange New Species
The Name A New Species Contest is held in conjunction with the release of the groundbreaking new children's book, Strange New Species: Astonishing Discoveries of Life on Earth, by Dr. Elin Kelsey.
For more information visit Maple Tree Press.
