Ocean Census Unveils 1,121 New Marine Species in a Year

Ocean Census reports 1,121 previously unknown marine species identified in a single year, accelerated by NOVA—a digital platform that enables rapid imaging, DNA sequencing, and data sharing to fast-track naming. Highlights include the ghost shark, the carnivorous death-ball sponge, a worm living in a glass sponge, a sea pen, and a ribbon worm, underscoring the urgency of documenting ocean biodiversity before it vanishes and hinting at potential medical breakthroughs.