Are scientists discovering new species faster than ever?

The answer

Despite concerns about biodiversity loss, scientists are now identifying more than 16,000 new species each year - a rate that would have been unimaginable a generation ago. A 2025 study revealed that 15% of all known species have been discovered in just the past two decades, thanks to advances in DNA barcoding, deep-sea exploration technology, and citizen science. In 2025 alone, the American Museum of Natural History described over 70 new species (from dinosaurs to deep-river fish), and the California Academy of Sciences described 72 new species including beetles, bush crickets, sea slugs, geckos, and even a new bird. Many of these species are assessed as threatened the moment they're scientifically described.