Newly discovered spider species named after Jay Chou songs

In the eyes of the spider researcher, many species, including the newly discovered ones, have fascinating characteristics. For example, mature female spiders can be several times larger than their male counterparts. The discovery of these new species reflects China's rich biodiversity and the success of ecological conservation efforts.

As the paper made national headlines this week, he expressed satisfaction with his team's accomplishment.

"It has brought our scientific work closer to the public," Mi said. "I hope that more people will take an interest in our research and support nature conservation."

Some netizens on social media have dubbed Mi "the ultimate fan" and lauded his approach of naming new species after pop songs as "the most innovative way to follow celebrities".

Many of Chou's fans have also found that this is not the first time the pop star has made an appearance in the scientific community.

In 2020, a master's degree student from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the CAS discovered a unique trilobite dating back about 500 million years. He named it Fantasy, inspired by Jay Chou's second studio album. The researcher told the media that the naming was his romantic way of paying tribute to his idol.

In 2009, four astronomy enthusiasts, also crazy about Chou's music, discovered an asteroid and named it after him.

In the academic world, the naming of new species or discoveries must follow established conventions. For instance, the name must be unique and should avoid causing misunderstandings or offense.

However, this does not mean there is no room for "creativity". Blending science and humanity has been a popular trend among researchers worldwide, especially younger ones, when it comes to naming discoveries.

In 2019, during a deep-sea exploration, scientists discovered a new amphipod creature. To welcome this "new resident" of the deep ocean, they named it "Dorotea" after the beautiful and kind character in the famous novel Don Quixote. Similarly, there was also a deep-sea worm that was given the name Hodor hodor in 2018, as a tribute to the beloved character from the fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.

A Chinese newspaper commented that incorporating elements of pop music into the names of new species is "not only an engaging approach but also helps draw public attention to science, inspiring more people to explore the wonders of nature".

Moreover, this practice introduces a novel way for popular culture to leave its mark.

"Once these names gain recognition from the international academic community, it can be viewed as an embodiment of Chinese cultural elements reaching a global audience," said The Beijing News.

Xinhua