The ‘Encyclopedia of Life’ if one recalls was a project started in 2007. Its mission is to be an online information fount on every type of animal and plant on the planet. At last count it has reached a very healthy content figure of 170,000 species entries. And to just underscore its value again, it has already started lending its knowledge to diverse fields such as climate change, aging and insect pestilence.

If you haven’t been there yet, check it out at EOL.

Just a year ago the online encyclopedia has 30,000 entries. It has been a ‘un-quiet’ spurt the last year as it crossed the 100,000 mark and headed further north. James Edwards, EOL Executive Director based at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington says,

"We're picking up speed.”

He couldn’t have been more succinct in echoing the success of this worldwide effort. The task to describe each and every species known to man is enormous even if understated. Bringing together diverse information on 1.8 million species of plant and animal life is no mean and cheap task. Herculean by research standards and financial; the bill estimate is $100 million dollars.

But the windfall to the scientific community and beyond is going to be enormous. We have to only relate to the similar Wikipedia project to understand the intangible impact. Already, the benefits are coming through. Here are a few examples as reported in the Reuters article…

Human aging: Scientists researching human aging are looking at info related to the differing mortality rates of diverse species. The data is helping them co-relate factors such as size and eating habits to life spans.

Combating pests: Researchers are studying patterns as how pests spread and migrate. For instance, Balkan moths have spread to the rest of Europe and have hit chestnut trees. EOL database is helping with public awareness as EOL’s online maps are reflecting the movement of such pests.

Global warming: Movement of species from warmer to cooler habitats is giving clues about patterns of global warming.

The most important benefit of such a central repository of knowledge is that hitherto scientists could study only isolated species without too much of insight into other co-related events. Now, everything can be linked, evaluated and analyzed as broadbased information is available with a click.

EOL is planning to expand its knowledge base to fossil species too.

Only one problem is being envisaged – the sheer enormity of the knowledge. Estimates say that 100 million species make up our planet. 200,000 get tagged each year. That makes this an ongoing project. The start has been made. Let’s hope the finish line is reached one day.