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WorldPingGizmodo
Someone Posted an Instagram Selfie. Scientists Spotted a Giant New Species in the Background
Sometimes, scientific discoveries can come from the most unexpected sources.
Brief by WorldPing · Original reporting by Gizmodo
How a plant selfie in Colombian jungle led to ‘jaw dropping’ giant waterlily find
WorldPingWhat happened
Species with leaves large enough to be seen from space is already critically endangered – and plans are afoot to protect it A chance social media encounter has led to the race-against-time discovery of a new species of giant waterlily that has until…
Key facts
- Reported by The Guardian and published Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:00:37 UTC.
Why it matters
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- Official statements or denials from the governments named
- Whether other major newsrooms confirm the same details
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Coverage timeline
When each newsroom published on this story, oldest first — all times UTC.
Scientists discover 180,000 giant tortoises on one Seychelles island
French giants Bordeaux relegated to sixth tier for financial irregularities
How a plant selfie in Colombian jungle led to ‘jaw dropping’ giant waterlily find
Sources
The original report was published by The Guardian. WorldPing does not claim that reporting — this page summarises and contextualises it.
Read the full report at The GuardianRelated WorldPing coverage
WorldPingAl Jazeera
WorldPingAl Jazeera
French giants Bordeaux relegated to sixth tier for financial irregularities
Six-time French champions Bordeaux, the club where Zinedine Zidane made his name, to play in sixth tier after sanctions.
Brief by WorldPing · Original reporting by Al Jazeera
WorldPingThe Guardian
Scientists discover 180,000 giant tortoises on one Seychelles island
Free-roaming Aldabra population far exceeds human population of Seychelles after decades-long recovery programme A survey of the world’s largest free-roaming giant tortoise population has discovered that the once endangered species is thriving.
Brief by WorldPing · Original reporting by The Guardian
WorldPingPhys.org
Chance Instagram sighting leads to discovery of rare giant water lily in Colombia
A new paper published in the journal Phytotaxa describes a new species in the genus Victoria, the Colombian giant water lily (Victoria colombiana). With only three other known species in the genus, V.
Brief by WorldPing · Original reporting by Phys.org
WorldPingNew Scientist
Number of known species of giant waterlilies almost doubles
A new species of giant waterlily identified with the help of social media and satellite photos is just one of three discovered in the past few years…
Brief by WorldPing · Original reporting by New Scientist