Naming rights

A scientist is offering the public the chance to name three ancient invertebrate species - in exchange for a donation of at least £5,000 towards the costs of his research. David Penney, a visiting academic in the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Manchester, discovered the novel spider, lace bug and lacewing species fossilised in amber samples. He also hopes to use the publicity around the auction to raise awareness of the United Nations' International Year of Biodiversity. He said: "This is a unique opportunity. The name and its derivation will remain in the annals of science for ever."