Latest news with #NOAAOceanExploration
IOL News
5 days ago
- Science
- IOL News
Mystery 'golden egg' found on ocean floor
This image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska, shows an unidentified specimen on a rocky outcropping at a depth of about 3,300 meters in the Gulf of Alaska. A golden egg on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean? A golden egg, or an alien, on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean? American scientists have discovered a mysterious dome-shaped specimen deep on the Alaskan seafloor, but nobody knows for sure what it is. Ocean researchers using a remotely operated survey vehicle were amazed last week when they spotted the strange item on a rock about 3 300 meters deep in the Gulf of Alaska. It is over 10 centimeters in diameter and had a small tear near its base. "As cameras zoomed in, scientists were stumped as to its identification, with initial thoughts ranging from a dead sponge attachment, to coral, to an egg casing," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement. "Invoking almost fairytale-like imagery, the specimen has since been dubbed a 'golden orb' and even a 'golden egg,'" the agency added. "Isn't the deep sea so delightfully strange?" wondered Sam Candio, an NOAA Ocean Exploration coordinator. As theories swirled on social media, including that of it being an alien egg, scientists extracted their August 30 discovery from the ocean floor to analyze it in a laboratory setting. "While we were able to collect the 'golden orb' and bring it onto the ship, we still are not able to identify it beyond the fact that it is biological in origin," NOAA said. It remains unclear if the golden dome is associated with a known species, a new species, or represents an unknown life stage of an existing one, according to Candio. "While somewhat humbling to be stumped by this finding, it serves as a reminder of how little we know about our own planet and how much is left to learn and appreciate about our ocean," he added. The dive was part of an expedition in the Gulf of Alaska to explore deepwater habitats. | AFP
New York Post
09-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Over 99% of the deep ocean seafloor remains a mystery, study finds
Explorers know that the Earth's oceans are vast, covering about 71% of the surface of the globe. According to a new study, just 0.001% of the deep seafloor has been visually observed. The deep ocean seafloor is defined as depths of 200 meters or more below Earth's surface, where oxygen levels are low and sunlight is virtually nonexistent. The study, published in Science Advances, equates the area seen by human eyes to being even smaller than the state of Rhode Island. 'As we face accelerated threats to the deep ocean—from climate change to potential mining and resource exploitation—this limited exploration of such a vast region becomes a critical problem for both science and policy,' Katy Croff Bell, Ph.D., president of Ocean Discovery League, National Geographic Explorer and lead author of the study, said in a statement. Researchers said they arrived at the surprising figure based on a review of data from approximately 44,000 deep-sea dives conducted since 1958. 7 According to a new study, just 0.001% of the deep seafloor has been visually observed. Ocean Discovery League 7 The study, published in Science Advances, equates the area seen by human eyes to being even smaller than the state of Rhode Island. Ocean Discovery League While scientists note that not all dive records are publicly accessible, even if their estimates were off by a factor of ten, it would still mean that less than one-hundredth of 1% of the deep ocean floor has ever been visually documented. Due to the costs and the technology needed to explore at vast depths, only a few countries are equipped to scan the ocean floor. These countries include the United States, Japan, New Zealand, France, and Germany. 7 Due to the costs and the technology needed to explore at vast depths, only a few countries are equipped to scan the ocean floor. NOAA Ocean Exploration What's it like down there? In the deepest trenches, it is void of life, according to scientists. Organisms such as sea spiders and some crustaceans can be found among hydrothermal vents. Water pressure is so immense that animals unsuited to the punishing environment would be killed. Because of the lack of sunlight, organisms must rely on senses other than sight to get around. 7 In the deepest trenches, it is void of life, according to scientists. NOAA Ocean Exploration 7 Because of the lack of sunlight, organisms must rely on senses other than sight to get around. NOAA Ocean Exploration The limited knowledge of the oceans means entire ecosystems may remain undiscovered, and countless species are not well understood. 'There is so much of our ocean that remains a mystery,' said Ian Miller, Ph.D., chief science and innovation officer at the National Geographic Society. 'Deep-sea exploration led by scientists and local communities is crucial to better understanding the planet's largest ecosystem. Dr. Bell's goals to equip global coastal communities with cutting-edge research and technology will ensure a more representative analysis of the deep sea. If we have a better understanding of our ocean, we are better able to conserve and protect it.' 7 Previous studies have suggested that potentially millions of plants and animals remain undiscovered simply due to the sheer size and inaccessibility of the oceans. NOAA Ocean Exploration 7 The limited knowledge of the oceans means entire ecosystems may remain undiscovered, and countless species are not well understood. NOAA Ocean Exploration Previous studies have suggested that potentially millions of plants and animals remain undiscovered simply due to the sheer size and inaccessibility of the oceans. The study's authors argue that as technology advances and becomes more cost-effective, expanding efforts to explore the vast ecosystem become increasingly feasible and necessary. By investing in emerging tools and strategies, researchers believe the world can gain a much deeper understanding of Earth's most critical and least known ecosystem.
Miami Herald
28-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Giant' monolith discovered towering on Pacific floor, NOAA says. ‘Super weird'
A massive stone monolith has been found poking out of the Pacific Ocean seafloor like a giant finger, according to NOAA Ocean Exploration. The pillar is 49 feet high, 36 feet long and 13 feet wide, and sits at a depth of about 6,700 feet, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a news release. It was encountered Tuesday, April 22, when the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer sent a remotely operated vehicle to explore a submerged ridge 1,160 nautical miles northwest from Honolulu. Scientists were initially unsure what was confronting them in the dark. 'That's like a huge rock, or is that a wall or what is that?' one researcher was heard asking during a live broadcast of the discovery. 'That's wild,' another said. 'This is a weird rock.... Looks like a chimney.' Closer inspection revealed the black crust was shiny and the rock had 'a forest' of sea life clinging to some sides, but not the others. The researchers quickly began tossing out possible explanations, leading them to the only logical conclusion: They found an unusual volcanic dike. 'It's an intrusive lava feature that will kind of shove itself between previously formed lava rock. Often times they're of a different composition of the rock that they're in, so they tend to be slightly more resistant to weathering,' one researcher explained. 'There was once rock around this and now it has weathered away and that's super weird. It's not common to see them this exposed.' Similar formations are found on land, including the Great Dikes of Colorado's Spanish Peaks, but this one is different, according to Val Finlayson, a University of Maryland geologist who was part of the NOAA expedition. 'What's unusual about this dike is that the (camera) came across it in an otherwise relatively flat area, just sticking straight up out of the ground,' Finlayson told McClatchy News in an email. 'It's interesting to see a standalone dike like this in a setting where the seamount may not have ever been above sea level, where typical erosion processes could have removed the host rock the dike intruded into. Some other sort of erosion or wasting process must have taken place.' An age for the formation has not been determined. But it's believed to be part of 'the volcanic plumbing system' of a nearby seamount, which began life as an underwater volcano. As for the 'shine,' that's due to the rock being polished by fast moving currents, the team concluded. The formation was discovered as part of a 28-day expedition to explore and map deep waters in and around Papahānaumokuākea, northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. The expedition began April 8 and continues through May 5. 'Waters in the Pacific Islands region ... span some of the last relatively pristine marine ecosystems on the planet and harbor numerous protected species, wondrous geological formations, and undiscovered shipwrecks,' NOAA reports.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Researchers Stumped After 1940s Car Is Found Inside Sunk World War II Aircraft Carrier
Earlier this month, researchers used a remotely operated vehicle to explore the hangar deck of the USS , which was sunk by a Japanese submarine in World War II and now rests at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean The crew was surprised to find a 1940s car on the hangar deck, believed to have been reserved for high-ranking naval officers or crew members to use when the was docked in foreign ports The discovery of the car has left researchers puzzled, according to NOAA A crew exploring the final resting site of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier that was sunk during World War II found something puzzling. On April 19 and 20, NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners used a remotely operated vehicle to continue ongoing explorations of the USS Yorktown at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, according to NOAA. The 809-foot-long carrier took part in several World War II operations before being sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Several investigations of the Yorktown shipwreck have been made since it was discovered in 1998 — about 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu — but the most recent dives were the first to explore the ship's hangar. Related: Colombian Shipwreck Worth $17 Billion to Be Recovered: 'Most Valuable Treasure' in the 'History of Humanity' During the operation on April 19, the crew observed "the faint outline" of an automobile while looking into the aft hangar deck from the port side. After analysis of the diagnostic features of the vehicle, it was tentatively identified as a 1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe, more familiarly known as a "Woody," in black. The words "SHIP SERVICE _ NAVY' are written on part of the car's front plate, leading researchers to suspect that the vehicle could have been used by Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, Captain Elliott Buckmaster or other crew members while the Yorktown was docked in foreign ports. But what has left researchers baffled is the fact that the car remained stowed in the hangar deck, following a brief, 48-hour repair period in Pearl Harbor, despite the ship's officers knowing they were headed to engage in the Battle of Midway. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to NOAA, the discovery of the car raises questions such as, "During the valiant efforts to right Yorktown's list, why too wasn't this car jettisoned like the anti-aircraft guns and the aircraft?" and "Did this automobile carry any particular importance to crew and officers who hoped it could be saved?" Related: Remains from 1856 Shipwreck Found Off the Coast of Massachusetts, Says Research Group The 1940s car was not the only surprise within the shipwreck. Researchers also found — and were able to photograph for the first time — a hand-painted mural inside one of the ship's elevator shafts. Prior to now, the mural had only been partially visible in historic photographs taken before the Yorktown sank, according to NOAA. The mural, which measures about 42 feet by 12 feet, depicts a world map which tracked all of the Yorktown's voyages. "Its motifs showcase the pride that Yorktown's sailors had for their ship, the global scale of Yorktown's activities and the strategic role that the ship played in defending the United States," NOAA said. Scientists additionally found at least three planes aboard the ship, including a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber with a bomb still secured in the release cradle. And since the Yorktown wreck has become a habitat for a variety of marine life, researchers also observed a red jellyfish that they believe may be a new species. "Observations of this [marine] life made throughout the ROV dives on April 19 and 20 are important in helping us better understand how the deep-ocean environment changes over time," NOAA noted. Read the original article on People
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
WWII aircraft discovered inside USS Yorktown wreck in pacific first
Researchers identified the car as a 1940-41 Ford Super Deluxe "Woody," with the words "SHIP SERVICE ___ NAVY" written on part of its front plate. (NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue) Listen to article NOAA Ocean Exploration has released new images from a dive inside the USS Yorktown, the legendary US Navy aircraft carrier sunk during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), NOAA surveyed the hangar deck of the wreck located deep in the Pacific Ocean. The operation, conducted on 19 and 20 April, marked the first mission to explore the ship's interior in such detail. At least three planes were located within the aft Elevator #3 of USS Yorktown during the dive on April 20, including an overturned SBD Dauntless that was still armed with a bomb mounted to the underside of the aircraft's fuselage. NOAA Ocean Exploration In a significant first, the team discovered at least three Douglas SBD Dauntless bombers, aircraft known to have taken part in the historic battle. One aircraft was found intact, with a bomb still secured in its release cradle, suggesting it may have been part of the carrier's reserve force. The other two planes showed battle damage and are believed to have belonged to the USS Enterprise's bombing squadron, which landed on the Yorktown after attacking Japanese ships. A vintage Ford Super Deluxe vehicle was discovered by divers while exploring the USS Yorktown. (NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2025 Beyond the Blue) NOAA said the damaged aircraft were moved to the hangar and set ablaze when Japanese bombs struck the carrier. While identification efforts are ongoing, the find marks the first discovery of underwater aircraft that actively participated in the Battle of Midway. The dive also revealed spare aircraft parts, including multiple wings, one of which was previously documented in 2023. A detailed mural titled 'A Chart of the Cruises of the USS Yorktown,' measuring 42 by 12 feet, was imaged for the first time since the ship's sinking. The mural, last visible in photographs taken before the carrier went down, depicts the Yorktown's global deployments and was found remarkably well-preserved. Marine life was also documented during the expedition, including tubeworms, anemones and a vibrant red jellyfish that NOAA believes may represent a new species. The USS Yorktown is managed and protected by the U.S. Navy's Naval History and Heritage Command. The wreck, discovered in 1998, serves as a war grave for hundreds of crew members lost during the battle. The Battle of Midway was a decisive encounter in the Pacific theatre. Over 3,400 lives were lost, with the U.S. losing one carrier and one destroyer, while Japanese forces suffered the loss of four carriers, one cruiser and hundreds of aircraft.
