NEW YEAR, NEW SPECIES

"THE BIG BANG THEORY'S" SHELDON COOPER KICKS OFF 2013 WITH A BZZZ-INGA!

Science Pays Tribute to One of Television's Favorite Physicists With the Naming of a Brand-New Species of Bee After the Esteemed Dr. Sheldon Cooper!

BURBANK, Calif. (January 2, 2013) - He has two Ph.D's and an IQ of 187, he plays "Words with Friends" with Stephen Hawking, and he owns Leonard Nimoy's napkin. The global march to spread the genius of The Big Bang Theory's Dr. Sheldon Cooper just crossed scientific fields, from theoretical physics to evolutionary zoo biology, as a new species of the Brazilian orchid bee - Euglossa bazinga - has been named after Dr. Cooper's zippy catchphrase.

· To see actual photos of this previously undiscovered species, please click here: http://bit.ly/SHrmua

Brazilian biologist Andre Nemesio from the Universidade Federal de Uberlandia discovered the new species of beautiful, but misunderstood orchid bee that bears a striking resemblance to the Euglossa ignita, (or more common Western Brazilian orchid bee). Because the bees share so many similar characteristics, their existence as a separate species eluded scientists for years. Hence, the bees' grand "bazinga" on the world of science!

Steven Molaro, one of The Big Bang Theory's executive producers, acknowledged the unprecedented honor on behalf of the show and Dr. Cooper. "We are always extremely flattered when the science community embraces our show. Sheldon would be honored to know that Euglossa bazinga was inspired by him. In fact, after 'Mothra' and griffins, bees are his third-favorite flying creatures."

The Big Bang Theory stars Jim Parsons as Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Johnny Galecki as Dr. Leonard Hofstadter, Simon Helberg as Mr. Howard Wolowitz, Kunal Nayyar as Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali, Mayim Bialik as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler and Melissa Rauch as Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski. Created by Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady, the series is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and is executive produced by Lorre, Prady and Molaro. Now in its sixth season, The Big Bang Theory airs on Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS.