It took scientists five years to determine that a moss species discovered in Antarctica is truly a new species. This is the first time India has found a plant species on the continent in the four decades since it established its first research station. Some polar researchers found the new species during India’s 36th mission to Antarctica in 2017.

The moss species is now called Bryum Bharatiensis after Bharati, the Hindu goddess who also lends her name to one of India’s Antarctic research stations. Biologists based in the Central University of Punjab gave the name.