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Researchers found a new species in the waters off of the U.K. — but they didn’t realize it at first
A new species of sea slug has been discovered off the waters of the U.K. Researchers with Centre for the Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science said they originally thought it was a well-known species, Pleurobranchaea meckeli, found near Spain and the Mediterranean Sea – but they weren’t sure.
There were no previous records of this type of slug in the U.K., “raising questions around its identity,” the center said in a news release.
The new species of slug, which has been named Pleurobranchaea britannica, is between two and five centimeters long – less than two inches and has gills on its side. It was discovered during a routine survey of sea life in southwest England and the center searched for experts who specialized in this type of slug to help them identify it.
Ross Bullimore via CEFAS
They sent the specimen to University of Cádiz in Spain, where researchers looked at its DNA and physical characteristics, finding it had a different appearance and reproductive system than other known species. So, it was determined it is a new, standalone species.
“The discovery marks the first recorded instance of a sea slug from the Pleurobranchaea genus in U.K. waters,” the news release reads. “Scientists believe that this new species could potentially be found from as far south as Spain and Portugal, around the French coast and up to the southwest of the English Channel.”
While slugs may be small, they are not just prey – but also predators.
To protect themselves from predators, some sea slugs will recycle parts of the prey they eat. If they eat prey that has toxins, for example they will secrete the poison into their own skin.
“It is exciting to see that routine fisheries surveys can still lead to such discoveries. It only took a brief inspection of two specimens to be confident that we had stumbled upon a species of Pleurobranchaea,” said Ross Bullimore, a marine ecologist who collected the specimens. “This was thrilling because no other species from this genus had been documented in U.K. waters, or even this far north.”
Bullimore said they were “blown away to discover that we had identified a third, new species.”
“There is often an assumption that we know everything there is to know about species found in U.K. waters, but this just goes to show that there is still so much to learn in our own backyard,” he said.
Hayden Close, a seabed analyst and modeller at the center, said it is “exhilarating” to uncover a new species. “It just goes to highlight the value of these surveys and serves as a reminder of the ocean’s boundless unexplored secrets, even in areas we consider well-charted and studied,” Close said.
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Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
How to watch the “60 Minutes” election special
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