Science in Action: How Science Works | California Academy of Sciences

Summary

Citizen scientists discovered a peculiar spider in a southern Oregon cave, leading to its classification as a new species, Trogloraptor, and a new family of spiders. The process was dynamic, involving trial and error, consultations, and community input. Scientists at the California Academy of Sciences continue to study the spider's unique respiratory system and claws, emphasizing the ongoing nature of scientific discovery. The narrative highlights that science is a collaborative, iterative process accessible to everyone.

Takeaways

• 🕷️ The discovery of the Trogloraptor, a new species of spider, was made by citizen scientists from the Western Cave Conservancy in a cave in southern Oregon.
• 🔬 Scientists in California declared the spider a new species and member of a new family, highlighting the dynamic and non-linear nature of scientific discovery.
• 📈 The process of identifying the Trogloraptor was complex, involving multiple scientists, observations, and comparisons with known species and fossil records.
• 🤔 The initial identification of the spider was challenging, with initial guesses being incorrect due to its unique characteristics.
• 🧬 The spider's anatomy was found to be distinct from all known families, both living and extinct, leading to the hypothesis of a new family related to goblin spiders.
• 📚 Extensive research and consultation with scientific literature and colleagues were necessary to confirm the uniqueness of the Trogloraptor.
• 📝 The scientific community's agreement on the new family was solidified through peer review, where anonymous scientists validated the findings.
• 🎉 The discovery of the Trogloraptor is a significant event in arachnology, as it's rare to establish a new family of spiders, with the last occurrence in North America being over a century ago.
• 🔬 Ongoing research continues on the Trogloraptor, including studies on its respiratory system, claws, and phylogenetic relationships within the Haplogyne spiders.
• 🏞️ The caves where Trogloraptors live are protected, ensuring the preservation of this newly discovered species and its habitat.
• 🌐 The script emphasizes that the scientific method is not just for scientists but is a process that everyone uses daily, making science accessible and relatable to all.

Q & A

What was the unusual discovery made by citizen scientists from the Western Cave Conservancy?

The citizen scientists discovered a large, odd-looking spider in a cave in southern Oregon.

What was the name given to the newly discovered spider species?

The spider was named Trogloraptor.

How does the process of scientific discovery described in the script differ from a linear process?

The process is described as dynamic, unpredictable, and not linear, more akin to a pinball machine than a step-by-step procedure.

Who was the scientist that first examined the spider, and what was her initial reaction?

Tracy Audisio was the scientist who first examined the spider. She was very curious about what lives in caves and was stumped after examining it for about two hours.

What was the initial hypothesis about the spider's identity before it was determined to be a new species?

The initial hypothesis was that the spider was a brown recluse due to its size, but upon closer examination, all the characteristics of a brown recluse were found to be incorrect.

How did the scientists confirm that the spider was indeed a new species?

The scientists compared the new spider to descriptions of all known spider families, both living and extinct, and consulted with colleagues in the scientific community.

What significant action did the scientists take to propose the spider as a new family?

The scientists wrote a publication and sent the paper and its conclusions to anonymous scientists for review, who agreed with their findings.

What is the significance of proposing a new family of spiders, and how often does this occur?

Proposing a new family of spiders is a very significant event as it does not happen often. The last time this occurred in North America was more than 100 years ago.

What are some of the ongoing studies and investigations related to Trogloraptor after its discovery?

Ongoing studies include understanding the spider's evolution, its surprising respiratory system, the anatomy of its remarkable claws, and the phylogeny of Haplogyne spiders through molecular data.

How does the script suggest that the process of science is applicable to everyday life?

The script suggests that everyone does science every day by making observations, asking questions, communicating ideas, and revisiting original thoughts, thus demystifying science and showing it as an accessible process.