A 40-year mystery solved: Meet the UK’s newest species | BBC News

For 40 years, the identity of a tiny seaweed living in a secret underwater world has been a mystery. But a team of scientific divers exploring the waters off south Cornwall have made a breakthrough.

They discovered a seaweed that is now known to be an entirely new species to science. The discovery is so new, it doesn't have a common name yet, so you are being invited to make suggestions.

Now scientifically documented for the first time globally, and shared exclusively with the BBC, and has joined the Natural History Museum's official collection. We’ve been to under-explored and well-known marine habitats in Cornwall to find out more.

Additional footage and stills courtesy of Francis Bunker, Natural England and Prof. Curt Pueschel.

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