
Deep sea squid caught on camera for the first time in ‘history-making sighting'
An incredibly rare deep sea squid has been caught on camera for the first time.
Researchers on an expedition in the Southern Ocean filmed the elusive three-foot creature on Christmas Day 2024 at a depth of 2152 metres.
National Geographic shared footage of the 'history-making sighting' of the Gonatus antarcticus squid in the Weddell Sea on Tuesday (10 June).
Manuel Novillo, a scientist onboard the research ship, said that the expedition was not meant to be in the area that day but poor weather conditions and dangerous sea ice caused them to reroute where they then spotted the creature.
Prior to the sighting, the existence of the vibrantly-coloured species was only known thanks to its remains being found in fishing nets and the stomachs of marine animals.
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Sky News
7 hours ago
- Sky News
Octopus boom along England's southwest coast down to 'perfect storm'
Why you can trust Sky News Octopuses, sharks and tuna that are booming in the sea around the UK could be part of a fundamental shift in the marine environment, a leading scientist has told Sky News. Dr Simon Thomas, from the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, said a perfect storm of factors, including climate change and overfishing, is leading to a rapid change in the species being found around the coast. "Since 2016, you've seen a lot of our traditional fish, like cod, ling and pollock decreasing in numbers and pushing northwards," he said. "Then we've seen other fish, especially things like bluefin tuna and blue sharks, being found in huge numbers in the water here. "It's almost like you've seen a complete shift in the regime of the ocean." Fishermen on the south coast of Devon and Cornwall are currently catching huge numbers of a large octopus species that is normally rare in the UK. "I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime," said Dr Thomas. "I've spent 40 years at sea and probably seen three or four of the big octopus over the years. Now they are seen regularly and (crab fishermen) are reporting their pots have been decimated." The octopuses are raiding crab and lobster pots for an easy meal. But there are so many of them, and they are so hungry, that fishermen say they are eating not only the bait and crustaceans, but also, at times, each other. Sam Jago, skipper of the Bosloe, returned to Plymouth after a day's fishing with 11 crates of octopuses - a 400kg bonanza that could fetch almost £3,000 at market rates. But he had just over one tub of crabs and lobsters - when normally he'd have more than a dozen. "They crack the shell and suck everything out of it," he said. "It's a quick buck at the moment, but who knows how long it's going to last for. "They will stay here until they've eaten everything. "But if the octopus go, the crab isn't going to just appear out of thin air. "We won't have a great deal to catch." The Marine Biological Association is studying factors that could underpin the surge in octopus numbers. The sea around the UK is around 2C warmer than normal. But in the southwest of England the temperature is 3C or even 4C above average for the time of year. Dr Thomas said warmer waters increase survival of young octopus fry over winter, and a change to ocean currents could bring them more food. 'The ocean is changing' Overfishing of species that would normally eat young octopuses may also mean more are surviving to adulthood. "There is no doubt that the ocean is changing," he said. "Fishermen are like the canaries in the coal mine, the first to see things changing out at sea." Scientists say protecting key parts of the ocean as marine nature reserves would serve as a buffer against pressures from human activity elsewhere. So far, 50 nations plus the EU have ratified the United Nations High Seas Treaty that commits countries to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Another nine need to ratify it for it to become operational.


Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Largest ever great white shark swims towards popular US beach resort
The largest great white shark ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean has ominously surfaced miles from a popular tourist spot near North Carolina. After a brief disappearance, the shark known as Contender was tracked near the Pamlico Sound, a well-visited spot for summer beach goers. Contender, an almost 14-foot shark, was first tagged in January around 45 miles from the Florida-Georgia coast before he disappeared in May for several weeks. OCEARCH, that tagged and tracked Contender, is a nonprofit organization that collects data on large marine animals across the US and Canada. Contender's signal remained dormant until June 7, at which point he resurfaced near the Pamlico Sound - one of the biggest attractions on the Outer Banks. The Pamlico is the largest sound, or saltwater lagoon, on the East Coast and attracts thousands of tourists with its renowned reputation for water sports and quiet sandy beaches. Contender's SPOT tag, or satellite transmitting tags designed to track marine life, will track his movements for around five years to help researchers further understand migration patterns. A shark's tag pings a transmission once their dorsal fin breaks the waters surface. Researchers believe his time missing in action was during a critical feeding period in which he stocked up on energy supplies for his journey north, The Sacramento Bee reported. 'This time of year, white sharks are starting their late spring/early summer migration [May 16 to June 30], moving from their southern overwintering area to their summer/fall foraging areas in the northeastern US and Atlantic Canada,' OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian Harley Newton told the outlet. 'We often see the sharks on our global shark tracker spend a period of time off the Outer Banks right before they move north, which is what white shark Contender appears to be doing,' Newton added. 'This may be due to rich food resources in the region and would serve as a time to feed and prepare before what nay be a journey of 1,000 miles or more.' The shark, believed to be almost 30 years old and weighing in at over 1650 pounds, was tracked to have come closest to the shoreline near Mosquito Lagoon in Florida. OCEARCH said that they chose the record-breaking shark's name after Contender Boats, a boat manufacturing company that builds semi-custom sportfishing boats. The company has partnered with OCEARCH by providing the vessel for their extensive missions. Upon Contenders original tagging in January, shocking photos showed the massive shark lined up alongside the boats. The average size for a male great white shark is around 12 to 13 feet and a female averages at 15 to 16 feet long. Shark enthusiasts were floored to see Contender's massive size, with many expressing their shock in the comments of a video shared by the research team on Instagram. 'So cool!! I need to look him up and see where he goes,' one comment read. 'Contender is the Man, I mean, Great White! What a beaut. Hope he avoids props, orcas and any other danger that can put this unique specimen down. Looking forward to following his travels. Ocearch, you people rock!!!' another comment added. 'He is so handsome! What a beautiful fishy!!! Thanks for studying them and protect them!! Sharks are awesome,' a third shared. Over 142 days, the huge great white traveled a total of 1,870 miles.


Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Ancient world discovered preserved beneath Antarctic ice
A vast ancient landscape, untouched for more than 34 million years, has been discovered buried beneath more than a mile of ice in East Antarctica. The hidden terrain lies in a remote region known as Wilkes Land, a part of East Antarctica roughly the size of Belgium and located deep inland, far from the coastline. Using satellite data and ice-penetrating radar, scientists revealed that this ancient world, now sealed under ice, once featured rivers, forests, and possibly even palm trees. In fact, pollen from palm trees has previously been found along the nearby Antarctic coast, providing striking evidence of a once-lush environment. Researchers estimate the buried landscape spans more than 12,000 square miles, about the size of Maryland. 'It's like uncovering a time capsule,' said Professor Stewart Jamieson, lead author of the study from Durham University. Tens of millions of years ago, as the continents gradually shifted, Antarctica drifted toward the South Pole. This movement helped form a powerful ocean current around the continent, isolating it from warmer waters. At the same time, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels dropped, cooling the planet. Together, these changes triggered the formation of massive ice sheets, transforming Antarctica into the frozen desert we know today. 'The land underneath the East Antarctic ice sheet is less well-known than the surface of Mars ,' said Stewart Jamieson, lead author of the study and a professor of geography at Durham University. 'We're investigating a small part of that landscape in more detail to see what it can tell us about the evolution of the landscape and the evolution of the ice sheet,' said professor Jamieson. Scientists have uncovered a dramatic ancient landscape buried beneath Antarctica's thick ice sheet, revealing towering ridges and deep valleys frozen in place for millions of years. The study identified three massive blocks of elevated ground, each measuring between 75 and 105 miles long and up to 53 miles wide, separated by valleys as wide as 25 miles and plunging nearly 3,900 feet deep. Unlike many glaciers that grind down the terrain beneath them, the ice in this part of East Antarctica is extremely cold and slow-moving, shifting less than 16 feet per year. This slow movement has preserved the landscape in remarkable detail. Scientists refer to this as a 'cold-based' ice sheet, meaning the ice is frozen to the ground and causes minimal erosion. 'It is remarkable that this landscape, hidden in plain sight for many years, can tell us so much about the early and long-term history of the East Antarctic ice sheet,' said Neil Ross, professor of environmental geophysics at Newcastle University and a co-author of the study. 'It also helps us understand how it might evolve in response to future climate change.' Researchers used satellite imagery to detect subtle surface bumps and ran computer models to trace how the landscape has shifted over time. Some areas of the buried terrain have risen by as much as 1,600 feet, slowly pushed upward by the sheer weight of overlying ice. The preserved terrain offers a rare window into Antarctica's deep past, long before ice claimed the continent. 'What we find is an ancient land surface that has not been eroded by the ice sheet, and instead it looks like it was created by rivers before the ice came along,' said Professor Jamieson. Back then, the region likely featured flowing rivers and dense forests, thriving in a temperate climate. As the ancient supercontinent Gondwana began to break apart, the shifting landmass created deep cracks and fissures, which likely split the high ground into distinct block before the first glaciers arrived. Over time, the climate cooled, and small glaciers formed, gradually carving the valleys deeper and sculpting the landscape into classic U-shaped formations typical of mountain glaciation. Roughly 14 million years ago, the expanding East Antarctic Ice Sheet engulfed the area in ice. Even during later warm periods, such as the mid-Pliocene, around 3 million years ago, the region remained frozen. Although surrounding ice may have partially melted during these warm spells, it was never enough to expose the ancient terrain. That's what makes this discovery so critical today, as Earth approaches carbon dioxide levels and temperatures not seen since those ice-free days. If global warming continues, scientists caution that parts of the ice sheet could eventually retreat again, though drilling through more than a mile of solid ice to reach this lost landscape would require substantial time, effort, and investment. 'We'll continue exploring the landscape, doing our best to fill in gaps where surveys don't exist,' Professor Jamieson said, 'and using that information to understand how the ice sheet and its underlying landscape have changed over their long history.'