Un equipo de científicos chilenos identificó una nueva especie de pulpo de aguas profundas en el Pacífico suroriental. El anuncio, realizado en Santiago de Chile, involucra a académicos del Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad de la Universidad Andrés Bello. El hallazgo responde a la pregunta sobre qué nuevas formas de vida habitan las profundidades del océano en esa región.

La investigación, publicada en la Revista de Ciencias Marinas e Ingeniería, señala que los ejemplares fueron encontrados entre los años 1980 y 2007 y permanecieron sin identificar en colecciones biológicas internacionales y chilenas. La nueva especie pertenece al género Graneledone y recibió el nombre de Graneledone Sellanesi.

El descubrimiento destaca la riqueza oculta de la fauna marina y sugiere la existencia de especies aún no documentadas en la zona.

Los investigadores María Cecilia Pardo y Christian Ibáñez lideraron el trabajo y eligieron el nombre en homenaje a Javier Sellanes, académico de la Universidad Católica del Norte de Chile y referente en la investigación oceánica nacional. Según los investigadores, este hallazgo representa la primera identificación de una nueva especie de Graneledone en 25 años. El género ahora suma once especies reconocidas a nivel mundial, lo que reafirma la importancia del Pacífico suroriental como un reservorio clave de biodiversidad marina.

El avance científico fue posible gracias al análisis de ejemplares conservados en museos de Alemania, Estados Unidos, Nueva Zelanda y Chile. Siete de estos ejemplares, recolectados por el Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Santiago, permanecieron décadas sin identificar. Un ejemplar adicional apareció en 2007 durante una captura de bacalao y nunca se clasificó oficialmente. El estudio sistemático de estos especímenes permitió confirmar la existencia de una especie única. El equipo analizó rasgos fenotípicos, como las verrugas que cubren la piel, cuyo número y disposición resultaron determinantes para distinguir al nuevo pulpo de otras especies del género descubierto.

El hallazgo pone en valor el trabajo de los museos y la importancia de revisar ejemplares históricos.

Las colecciones biológicas internacionales y chilenas guardaban ejemplares desde hace décadas. Muchos de estos pulpos permanecieron sin clasificar, esperando una revisión exhaustiva. Los registros más antiguos corresponden a capturas realizadas entre 1980 y 1997 en el sur de Chile. El análisis de los ejemplares observaciones morfológicas detalladas, que permitieron identificar características únicas de la nueva especie.

Además, la colaboración internacional resultó clave para reunir información suficiente y confirmar la singularidad del Graneledone Sellanesi. Según los investigadores, la revisión de especímenes conservados contribuye a esclarecer la diversidad marina del Pacífico suroriental y puede inspirar nuevas investigaciones en la región.

El hallazgo de ejemplares en capturas accidentales, como el caso de 2007 durante una pesca de bacalao, demuestra que la biodiversidad marina aún oculta sorpresas. El trabajo meticuloso de los científicos permitió rescatar información valiosa de especímenes que, de otro modo, habrían permanecido en el anonimato.

La especie presenta rasgos morfológicos únicos, especialmente en la disposición de las verrugas de su piel.

Los investigadores destacan la importancia de los rasgos fenotípicos en la identificación del nuevo pulpo. Las verrugas que cubren la piel varían en número y disposición respecto a otras especies del género. Esta característica se suma a diferencias genéticas que confirman su condición de especie única. Las observaciones morfológicas resultaron determinantes para comprender el valor del hallazgo.

De acuerdo con el estudio de las verrugas y otros rasgos visibles, se pudo concluir que era un ser único en el ecosistema marino. La aparición de una nueva especie de pulpo en el oceáno confirma el potencial inexplorado de la región. El estudio de la especie sienta bases para investigar la evolución y adaptación en ambientes extremos.

La comunidad científica valora el aporte de este descubrimiento para la conservación y el manejo sustentable de los ecosistemas marinos. Los investigadores instan a fortalecer la exploración de aguas profundas y la protección de la biodiversidad en el Pacífico suroriental, una de las regiones más ricas y menos exploradas del planeta.

As the Trump administration weighs its next move on Iran, one of the most advanced aircraft in the U.S. arsenal has taken up position closer to Tehran.

Eleven U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters have arrived at Israel’s Ovda Air Base in the country’s south, Fox News reported, marking the first-ever operational deployment of American combat aircraft to Israel. The move comes amid a broader U.S. military buildup in the region not seen at this scale in years and as concerns grow over Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities.

For American decision-makers, the significance is straightforward: The F-22 changes the military equation.

«The F-22 is indeed the most air-to-air capable fighter in the world; nothing comes close to it in the air-to-air role,» said retired Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, former deputy chief of staff for operations at U.S. Air Force headquarters. During a May 26 webinar hosted by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), he described its presence as «a very clear deterrent signal» that allows the United States to «negotiate with strength.»

Designed to establish and maintain air superiority, the F-22 can operate in heavily defended airspace and suppress enemy air defenses. In any potential strike scenario against Iran, that capability would be critical. Before bombers or strike aircraft can reach hardened nuclear or missile targets, someone has to clear the skies. That is the F-22’s core mission, former generals explained in the webinar.

Guastella underscored what forward positioning means in practical terms. «The advantage of the large force that’s there is that it can hold almost any target in Iran at risk … if that’s what the president wants to do,» he said.

Retired Lt. Gen. Charles Moore, former deputy commander of U.S. Cyber Command, said in the webinar that the deployment is about expanding presidential options rather than signaling a predetermined strike.

TRUMP ISSUES STERN IRAN WARNING AS TEHRAN ANGRILY REACTS TO SPEECH AMID MUTED WORLD REACTION

Two U.S. F-22 Raptor fighters fly over European airspace during a flight to Britain from Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in Romania April 25, 2016. (Reuters)

«There is a lot of combat capability that’s been moved into the region … the more capability, the more assets we put, the more options that the President has. We don’t box him in,» Moore said.

He added that the posture allows the United States «to be prepared for a long-term type of deployment and sustainment of combat capability if that’s what the President decides he wants us to do.»

Trump signaled Friday that diplomacy remains his preference but did not rule out force. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas, he said he was not happy with Iran and wants to make a deal with Tehran, but warned that «sometimes you have to» use military force. He added that Iran remains unwilling to forswear nuclear weapons as demanded by the United States.

The choice of Israel as the deployment site also matters. Unlike some Gulf bases, where operational restrictions can apply, Israel offers fewer political constraints, they explained. That gives U.S. planners additional freedom of action in a fast-moving crisis.

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A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet climbs after taking off from the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Puerto Rico, Jan. 4, 2026.  (Ricardo Arduengo/Reuters)

JINSA’s fellow for American Strategy, Jonathan Ruhe, said the move follows a JINSA recommendation to expand U.S. basing options in Israel, outlined in a report the organization published last fall.

That report argued that forward basing in Israel would enhance U.S. flexibility and deterrence in the region. The organization has for months pushed the idea that Israel could function as a land-based platform for American airpower in the Middle East.

Former Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amikam Norkin said deploying such high-end aircraft to the region is not routine and framed the move as both operational and strategic. «It presents the American commitment to Israeli security once you are landing with your best airplane in Israel,» he said, adding that regional actors «understand the very strong commitment of the American government, American military, American President, to the national security of Israel.»

At the same time, he rejected the idea that the deployment represents a shift toward American «boots on the ground» in Israel.

«Well, it’s not the first time that America is on the ground. As you remember the 12-Day War, the American Air Defense System supported us. So it’s already been done,» Norkin said.

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Map shows where the U.S. is building up military forces near Iran. (Fox News )

More broadly, he emphasized that Iran is not solely an Israeli problem. «The Iranian threat, it’s not just an Israeli threat, it’s a regional threat, and the American forces support the region, not just Israel.»

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command briefed President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday on potential military options targeting Iran, a source familiar with the meeting confirmed to Fox News. The president’s top military adviser, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, also attended the briefing.

For now, officials describe the move as part of preparedness rather than a prelude to immediate conflict. But the arrival of America’s premier air-dominance fighter on Israeli soil signals a new phase in U.S.-Israel military coordination and a clear message to Tehran: If the president chooses to strike, the tools are already in place.

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Scouting America, the organization previously known as the Boy Scouts of America, has agreed to make several changes, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.  

The group is under pressure from the U.S. Department of War, which has threatened to yank its support.

In a video message issued on Friday, Hegseth said he had been «very seriously considering ending our support of scouting altogether,» accusing the group of adopting «radical, woke ideology.» 

But he said the organization has agreed to implement changes, mentioning five, while indicating there were more.

«First, Scouting America has agreed to comply immediately with the provisions of Executive Order 14173. This includes reviewing and replacing politicized, divisive, and discriminatory language throughout the organization, programs, and all publications. No more DEI, zero,» he declared.

He said that a DEI-related merit badge has been discontinued.

«Third, Scouting America will modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity,» he said. «That means that the application, any application, will have only two sex designations, male and female, and the application must match the applicant’s birth certificate. Scouting will also make clear that biological boys and girls will not be allowed to occupy or share intimate spaces together. Toilets, showers, tents, anywhere like that,» Hegseth noted.

«Fourth, Scouting America will honor those who serve by waiving the registration fees for children of active duty, guard, and reserve families,» he noted. «Fifth, in partnership with the War Department, Scouting America will introduce a new military service merit badge.»

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA NAME CHANGE BECOMES OFFICIAL IN EFFORT TO BE MORE ‘INCLUSIVE’

United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during a visit to Sierra Space in Louisville, Colorado on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.  (AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

The organization said in a statement on Friday, «Scouting America is proud to uphold our longstanding commitment to military families across the globe through a renewed, strengthened partnership with the Department of War. Over several months, we engaged in dialogue with Department leadership to align on how we could deepen our service to military families, while making programmatic updates to comply with Executive Order 14173.»

«Today we are moving forward with implementing new programmatic elements  that deliver on that mission:  waiving registration fees for military families, launching a new merit badge focused on military service and veterans, and reinforcing our commitment to Scouting’s foundational ideas: leadership, character, duty to God, duty to country and service,» the release noted.

Earlier this month, Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs Sean Parnell said in a post on X, «Our review of the DoW’s financial assistance and partnership with Scouting America, including its quadrennial National Jamboree celebration, has been rigorous and ongoing.»

Hegseth said in his video message on Friday that the department will evaluate the group’s progress in six months.

He said the Department of War’s «support for Scouting America is contingent on them making substantial progress toward reaching these and many other positive changes in the next six months.»

HEGSETH APPEALS RULING BLOCKING PUNISHMENT OF DEM SENATOR OVER ‘ILLEGAL ORDERS’ VIDEO

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon on March 17, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

«If we’re unsatisfied with Scouting America’s progress toward and commitment to the agreed-upon reforms, we will find them in violation of the president’s executive order and cease our support,» he said. «Ideally, I believe the Boy Scouts should go back to being the Boy Scouts, as originally founded, a group that develops boys into men. Maybe someday.»

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