Stunning images of life captured in dive to ocean floor off Argentina. See them
Mar del Plata sits more than 2 miles below the ocean surface, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
This mysterious part of the ocean is at the junction of two powerful currents, one of which is salty and warm, while the other is cold and rich in nutrients, creating a highly biodiverse environment, experts said.
The 20-day Talud Continental IV expedition, which began July 22, makes use of the remotely operated vehicle 'SuBastian' to visit the seafloor and record the marine life without disturbing the environment, according to a July 30 news release from Argentina's National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET).
It is the first time SuBastian, capable of capturing ultra-high-definition images and collecting samples, has been used in Argentine waters, according to the release.
Expedition leader Dr. Daniel Lauretta said exploring the underwater region is like exploring another planet, adding that with every dive, there is something new to discover, according to the release.
The team will collect many samples including environmental DNA, such as shed skin, which will allow them to identify animals that live in that habitat but may not have been directly observed, researchers said.
SuBastian will allow researchers to gather 'evidence of coral gardens and animal communities they know exist but have never seen in their natural setting,' and likely aid in the discovery of many new species, according to experts.
SuBastian's dives to the ocean floor are being live-streamed on the Schmidt Ocean Institute 's YouTube channel. Recordings of previous dives from this expedition, labeled Mar Del Plata Canyon, can be found under past live streams section.
The expedition will conclude Aug. 10.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.
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The Bright Side: Underwater robot live stream mesmerizes Argentines
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Pablo Penchaszadeh, a marine biologist and painter who is on board the expedition as an artist, told AFP. Patrick Star The 20-day expedition "Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon" involves 25 scientists -- most of them from the Argentine research agency CONICET. Part of the GEMPA deep sea study group, with support from the US Schmidt Ocean Institute, it will end on August 10. Aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's "Falkor (too)" ship, scientists remotely operate the robot, which can descend to a depth of 4,500 meters (14,700 feet). They collect biological samples with its robotic arms and other instruments, and send back high-definition images. "The fact that anyone can connect from home and see what we are seeing live is a unique opportunity," explains expedition leader Daniel Lauretta in a statement. "Science is no longer something distant or inaccessible, but becomes part of everyday life." This week, social media users were delighted when an orange starfish with two symmetrical bumps resembling buttocks appeared on the live stream. It quickly prompted comparisons with Patrick Star, from the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. Memes circulated joking that "Patrick is Argentine," marine biology became a trending topic on social media, and the broadcast reached the screens of hundreds of thousands of captivated viewers. "I came to see the big-bottomed star, is it here?" asked one user upon entering the YouTube chat. Spectators also gave other sea creatures nicknames: a king crab was dubbed "Drag Queen," and sea cucumber was fondly called "Sweet Potato." 'Beacon of light' This is the first time that human eyes -- albeit remotely -- have seen this underwater oasis in real time, where the cold, nutrient-rich Malvinas current and warm, salty Brazil current converge. The confluence is "one of the most energetic regions in our global Ocean," according to the website of the Schmidt Institute, with the temperature difference creating an area teeming with marine wildlife and flora. "We are already seeing incredible things: animals that have never been recorded in this area, underwater landscapes that look like something from another planet, and behaviors that surprise even the most experienced scientists," said Lauretta. But funding for such expeditions is under threat in Argentina. CONICET, the government's scientific research arm, has been severely underfunded by libertarian President Javier Milei, who has implemented draconian cuts to public spending with his infamous "chainsaw." Its budget fell by 21 percent last year, salaries have plummeted by 35 percent since the Milei took office in December 2023, and the cuts have led to an exodus of scientists. As a result, in between "oohs" and "aahs" of wonder, messages of support are flooding the live stream's chat: "Long live Conicet!". "Seeing people being passionate about their job is attractive," said Tomas Atilio Luppi, a biologist at the CONICET-affiliated marine and coastal research institute in Mar del Plata, who is not directly involved in the campaign. "This is happening at a very difficult time," he told AFP of the popular broadcast. "Science is in a very complicated position, both financially and in terms of support and human resources." "The fact that this craze is happening is like a beacon of light." (FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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A robot explores the dark, cold, deep sea floor of the South Atlantic, transmitting images of vibrant coral and fish never seen before as scientists give live commentary via YouTube. And Argentines can't get enough of it. The Argentine-American scientific mission is for the first time exploring the Mar del Plata canyon, a submarine gorge which plunges nearly 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) deep, off the coast of the seaside resort of the same name. The awed conversations between scientists leading the expedition and the explanations they give to viewers allow the public a rare insight into the hidden wonders of marine biology. In one instance, the camera on the SuBastian underwater robot shows a weird-looking, little white animal. One of the scientists on the team can be heard asking her colleagues, "Do we want it?" "Yes, yes, we want it!" reply dozens of messages in the live stream chat before the image shows the suction device being activated to suck up the specimen for study. "Oh, I love these little creatures," says one user. "I'm obsessed!" comments another. "Don't take the little one away!" pleads a third. The live stream began a week ago and exceeded one million views per day since Thursday, when it also began to be broadcast on television. "There are cold-water corals with the same colors as those in the Caribbean. How can that be? At a depth of 3,000 meters!" Pablo Penchaszadeh, a marine biologist and painter who is on board the expedition as an artist, told AFP. - Patrick Star - The 20-day expedition "Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon" involves 25 scientists -- most of them from the Argentine research agency CONICET. Part of the GEMPA deep sea study group, with support from the US Schmidt Ocean Institute, it will end on August 10. Aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's "Falkor (too)" ship, scientists remotely operate the robot, which can descend to a depth of 4,500 meters (14,700 feet). They collect biological samples with its robotic arms and other instruments, and send back high-definition images. "The fact that anyone can connect from home and see what we are seeing live is a unique opportunity," explains expedition leader Daniel Lauretta in a statement. "Science is no longer something distant or inaccessible, but becomes part of everyday life." This week, social media users were delighted when an orange starfish with two symmetrical bumps resembling buttocks appeared on the live stream. It quickly prompted comparisons with Patrick Star, from the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. Memes circulated joking that "Patrick is Argentine," marine biology became a trending topic on social media, and the broadcast reached the screens of hundreds of thousands of captivated viewers. "I came to see the big-bottomed star, is it here?" asked one user upon entering the YouTube chat. Spectators also gave other sea creatures nicknames: a king crab was dubbed "Drag Queen," and sea cucumber was fondly called "Sweet Potato." - 'Beacon of light' - This is the first time that human eyes -- albeit remotely -- have seen this underwater oasis in real time, where the cold, nutrient-rich Malvinas current and warm, salty Brazil current converge. The confluence is "one of the most energetic regions in our global Ocean," according to the website of the Schmidt Institute, with the temperature difference creating an area teeming with marine wildlife and flora. "We are already seeing incredible things: animals that have never been recorded in this area, underwater landscapes that look like something from another planet, and behaviors that surprise even the most experienced scientists," said Lauretta. But funding for such expeditions is under threat in Argentina. CONICET, the government's scientific research arm, has been severely underfunded by libertarian President Javier Milei, who has implemented draconian cuts to public spending with his infamous "chainsaw." Its budget fell by 21 percent last year, salaries have plummeted by 35 percent since the Milei took office in December 2023, and the cuts have led to an exodus of scientists. As a result, in between "oohs" and "aahs" of wonder, messages of support are flooding the live stream's chat: "Long live Conicet!". "Seeing people being passionate about their job is attractive," said Tomas Atilio Luppi, a biologist at the CONICET-affiliated marine and coastal research institute in Mar del Plata, who is not directly involved in the campaign. "This is happening at a very difficult time," he told AFP of the popular broadcast. "Science is in a very complicated position, both financially and in terms of support and human resources." "The fact that this craze is happening is like a beacon of light." bur-lm/dg/db/aks/st Solve the daily Crossword
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A team of 30 Argentinian scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's state-of-the-art research vessel Falkor (too) has embarked on the first-ever journey to the underwater Mar Del Plata Canyon off the coast of Argentina. Mar del Plata sits more than 2 miles below the ocean surface, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute. This mysterious part of the ocean is at the junction of two powerful currents, one of which is salty and warm, while the other is cold and rich in nutrients, creating a highly biodiverse environment, experts said. The 20-day Talud Continental IV expedition, which began July 22, makes use of the remotely operated vehicle 'SuBastian' to visit the seafloor and record the marine life without disturbing the environment, according to a July 30 news release from Argentina's National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). It is the first time SuBastian, capable of capturing ultra-high-definition images and collecting samples, has been used in Argentine waters, according to the release. Expedition leader Dr. Daniel Lauretta said exploring the underwater region is like exploring another planet, adding that with every dive, there is something new to discover, according to the release. The team will collect many samples including environmental DNA, such as shed skin, which will allow them to identify animals that live in that habitat but may not have been directly observed, researchers said. SuBastian will allow researchers to gather 'evidence of coral gardens and animal communities they know exist but have never seen in their natural setting,' and likely aid in the discovery of many new species, according to experts. SuBastian's dives to the ocean floor are being live-streamed on the Schmidt Ocean Institute 's YouTube channel. Recordings of previous dives from this expedition, labeled Mar Del Plata Canyon, can be found under past live streams section. The expedition will conclude Aug. 10. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.
