The Encyclopedia of Life
 On Earth today, 1.8 million plants, animals, creepy-crawlies, and other living matter have been named by humans. That's a lot, but "many millions more" remain at large and, according to this site, "countless are going extinct before we even glimpse them." Yesterday, a consortium of scientists and institutions announced the Encyclopedia of Life, or "EOL," a breathtaking new project to catalog every species of organism on the planet and make that information available to anyone who wants it. Inspired by the vision of scientist and writer E.O. Wilson, this collaborative web project eclipses any similar endeavor. "Key components" of the site aren't expected to be available until 2008. But you can browse the in-depth FAQ, glimpse what entries will look like (say hello to one of our favorites, "the yeti crab"), and register for updates. Welcome to the world, EOL.
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