Denis Papin, a French minesweeper lost during Operation Dynamo in World War II.

Unlocking the secrets of the wrecks of Operation Dynamo

Thirty shipwrecks associated with Operation Dynamo, a massive World War Two rescue operation, were surveyed by the French marine heritage agency Drassm in collaboration with Historic England.

This significant initiative, which took place between 25 September and 8 October, offers a detailed account of the wrecks' locations, characteristics and conditions, shedding light on the magnitude and human toll of this historic event.

In 2023, DNA analysis found the houting to be genetically indistinguishable from Coregonus lavaretus, the common European Whitefish,and therefore not extinct.
In 2023, DNA analysis found the houting to be genetically indistinguishable from Coregonus lavaretus, and therefore not extinct.

The Houting's Remarkable Return: Not Extinct After All

The Houting fish, believed to have vanished from our waters, has made an unexpected return. Previously listed as 'extinct' on the IUCN Red List of Species, recent research has unveiled that this fish is not only thriving but is also not a distinct species as once thought.

The initial classification of its extinction was centred on morphological differences, especially the number of gill rakers. However, a detailed study published on bmcecolevol.biomedcentral.com contradicts this.