Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles (dramatic music) - [Narrator] To date, scientists have found over 925,000 species of insects. And there is one man still determined to find more. (triumphant orchestral music) Meet Dr. Isaí. He is an entomologist, but he doesn't always work in your typical lab. - [Isaí] That's right. - [Narrator] He tracks to the Patagonian ice fields searching for new insect species that have been hiding for over 200 million years. - [Isaí] Due to the frigid and drastically changing climate, there is very little information on the insects that inhabit the area. Every day is different for me. I'm looking for creatures smaller than my pinky nail, so I'm always searching for the tiniest indication of any insect life. - [Narrator] This year, Isaí stumbled upon a new pool of water among the vegetation. - [Isaí] It's there that I found something that I've never seen before. The coloration on the bottom of the insect varying from other species. - [Narrator] Isaí took the insect back to his lab and ended up making history. - [Isaí] Discovering this new species was the most amazing thing. It felt as though all of my hard work had paid off. I couldn't wait to share it with the rest of the world. - [Narrator] This only motivated Isaí further. But in order to be successful in his search for new species, he's needed some other unexpected skills. Sometimes, I feel like I'm an extreme athlete. I usually carry over 80 pounds on my back. I take my microscopes, my cameras, vials and anything else I might need to document these expeditions. - [Narrator] It's also extremely important to Isaí that he's able to get to each new location with a low carbon footprint. - [Isaí] I always manage to bike, hike, swim or raft. - [Narrator] But climate change and shifting conditions can also make his work extremely dangerous. - [Isaí] Melting glaciers can sometimes cause an outburst flood, which could be fatal if I'm not prepared. And if I'm not wearing my protective gear, my skin could burn just from being exposed to the freezing water for more than 10 seconds. - [Narrator] Isaí feels it is not only his mission, but his responsibility to continue this work. With more than 40 possible species under review, Isaí has no plans of slowing down. - [Isaí] I'm working against the clock because the homes of these insects are rapidly disappearing due to climate change and human impact. I hope to continue studying them and to discover their hidden worlds before our biodiversity is changed forever. (music)
B1 US GreatBigStory narrator insect climate searching lab In Search of Undiscovered Insects 48 3 許大善 posted on 2019/06/16 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary