Latest news with #deepsea
Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'They're Warning Us': Scientists Stunned as Three Massive ‘Apocalypse Fish' Emerge From the Deep and Wash Ashore Within Days
IN A NUTSHELL 🐟 The mysterious appearances of oarfish on Tasmania and New Zealand shores have sparked intrigue and myth. on Tasmania and New Zealand shores have sparked intrigue and myth. 🌊 Known as the 'fish of the apocalypse,' these deep-sea creatures can reach up to 26 feet, capturing public imagination. 📚 Scientists emphasize no proven link between oarfish sightings and natural disasters, advocating for rational investigation. and natural disasters, advocating for rational investigation. 📰 Journalist Chloé transitioned from sports to wildlife reporting, exploring the natural world for The mysterious appearances of the oarfish on the shores of Tasmania and New Zealand have reignited discussions about their elusive nature and the myths surrounding them. Often called the 'fish of the apocalypse,' these deep-sea creatures capture the imagination with their striking looks and rare sightings. While these events stir intrigue and speculation, scientists urge a rational perspective, emphasizing the need for empirical understanding over superstition. As we explore the enigmatic world of the oarfish, we delve into the myths, scientific insights, and the captivating journey of a journalist who brings these stories to life. The Unusual Surge of Oarfish Sightings The recent surge in oarfish sightings began on Tasmania's west coast, followed by two more in New Zealand. These creatures, belonging to the Regalecidae family, are known for their elongated bodies that can reach up to 26 feet, making them hard to miss. Andrew Stewart, fish curator at New Zealand's Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, described them as 'magnificent and otherworldly,' highlighting the repetitive nature of their bodies. Despite their fascinating appearance, oarfish sightings remain rare, with only about twenty confirmed cases in New Zealand. Stewart emphasized the rarity of these occurrences, noting that the museum hoped to secure one specimen for research. Unfortunately, natural predators had already consumed the heads, depriving scientists of valuable data such as otoliths, teeth, and gill rakers. While these events fuel curiosity and speculation, they are isolated incidents rather than common occurrences, underscoring the need for further research and understanding of these deep-sea dwellers. Debunking Myths Around Oarfish and Natural Disasters The eerie appearance of oarfish has long fueled myths associating them with natural disasters, particularly earthquakes and tsunamis. In Japan, they are known as ryugu no tsukai, believed to be messengers warning of impending cataclysms. However, scientific studies, including one from 2019, have found no correlation between oarfish appearances and seismic activity. Andrew Stewart advocates for a science-based approach, emphasizing the absence of any proven link between these sightings and natural disasters. Oarfish live in the deep ocean, primarily in open oceanic areas, making their observation rare and contributing to the mystique surrounding them. Nick Ling, a fish ecologist at the University of Waikato, explains that this scarcity fuels numerous myths. He describes their unique vertical swimming style, where they undulate their dorsal fins, calling them 'truly beautiful fish' with an 'extraordinary lifestyle.' By understanding their true nature, we can appreciate these creatures without the shadow of superstition. The Fascination with Abyssal Creatures Beyond their mythical status, oarfish captivate scientists and the public alike due to their enigmatic existence. These deep-sea residents remain largely a mystery, with much of their biology and behavior still unknown. Their sudden appearances on shores offer rare opportunities for study, though these are often thwarted by natural predators or environmental factors. For researchers, examining these creatures up close can provide invaluable insights into deep-sea ecosystems. Despite challenges in accessing intact specimens, oarfish continue to draw interest from marine biologists and enthusiasts worldwide. Their allure lies not only in their size and appearance but also in the secrets they hold about Earth's most uncharted frontiers. As scientists strive to uncover more about these mysterious creatures, the oarfish remain a symbol of the wonders and mysteries that the ocean still holds. Chloé's Passionate Journey from Sports to Wildlife Reporting Chloé's journalism career began in areas far removed from mysterious sea creatures, initially focusing on women's and sports media. Yet, her passion for travel and wildlife always tugged at her heartstrings, leading her to where she now writes about animals and explores their habitats. Her diverse experiences enrich her storytelling, offering readers a glimpse into the wonders of the natural world. Chloé's tales are not just about wildlife but also about the human connection to these creatures and the environments they inhabit. Her work invites readers to ponder the delicate balance of nature and the role we play in preserving it. As we marvel at the enigmatic oarfish and the stories they inspire, we are reminded of the vast unknowns that still exist in our oceans. What other secrets might the deep ocean hold, waiting to be discovered by curious minds? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (23)
Fox News
5 days ago
- Science
- Fox News
Could underwater living be the next frontier for human habitats
As the world faces environmental challenges and seeks new opportunities, the idea of underwater living is gaining serious momentum. While lunar and Martian colonies make headlines, scientists and engineers are turning their attention to the ocean floor, a mysterious and untapped frontier much closer to home. Underwater habitats are not a new concept. In the 1960s, Jacques Cousteau built and lived in underwater modules, proving that humans could survive beneath the waves for short periods. Since 2001, NASA has been sending researchers to the Aquarius Reef Base off Florida's coast. There, they live and work for up to two weeks about 65 feet below the surface. Recent advances are making long-term underwater living a real possibility. British company DEEP is developing two modular habitats designed for extended stays. These habitats use advanced manufacturing methods such as Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing to build strong, efficient structures. These innovations help the units withstand the intense pressure of the deep sea. Living underwater is not easy. Humans need oxygen, sunlight and stable pressure. Yet, history shows we can adapt to extreme environments. For instance, astronauts have lived on the International Space Station for over a year at a time, dealing with challenges similar to those found underwater. Even so, recent experiments are encouraging. German engineer Rudiger Koch spent 120 days in a submerged capsule without health issues. Likewise, Professor Joseph Dituri lived 100 days underwater and emerged healthier, with better sleep, reduced cholesterol and even a younger biological age. The Vanguard underwater habitat is DEEP's innovative engineering prototype for advancing underwater living. Vanguard is a compact underwater module designed for short-term missions that can support three people at most. It lets DEEP test new designs and technologies in real-world conditions. It also helps the company gather valuable user feedback. The development of the Vanguard underwater habitat starts with dry assembly. All parts, including the wet porch and pressure vessel, are built, tested and put together on land. Then, the team conducts dry testing by pressurizing the vessel with air to check for leaks and confirm it can maintain the necessary ambient pressure. After that, dockside testing begins. The habitat is placed in water beside a dock for gradual submersion, which makes it easy to test for water-tightness and electrical safety. Finally, the team conducts full underwater testing. In this phase, Vanguard operates on the seafloor and receives air, power, water, and communications from the surface. This final step offers key feedback on how people live and work in the habitat, helping DEEP improve Vanguard and design the larger Sentinel system. Success with the Vanguard underwater habitat will demonstrate what's achievable for underwater missions. It can reduce time, cost and weather risk for deep-sea operations. Moreover, it can unlock new discoveries beneath the waves. The larger Sentinel subsea habitat system offers comfortable living quarters, research facilities and panoramic views. It supports stays of up to 28 days at depths reaching 656 feet. By keeping researchers in a "saturated" state, DEEP reduces the risk of decompression sickness. This allows for longer and safer underwater residencies. According to the company's website, Sentinel is scheduled to be in the water by the end of 2027. These habitats will help scientists study both the ocean and the effects of extended underwater living. Ultimately, they mark an important milestone toward a permanent human presence beneath the sea. The ocean presents both immense challenges and incredible opportunities. As innovation continues, underwater living could become our next great frontier. We may soon witness the rise of permanent ocean habitats and with them, discoveries that transform our understanding of life on Earth. Would you be willing to trade sunlight to live beneath the sea? Let us know by writing us at Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join my Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Goodwood: Call to action for oceans at Future Lab
Sir David Attenborough warned in his latest film Ocean that humanity still knows more about space than the deep sea and issued a plea to protect the planet's last great wilderness. The message was echoed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where Future Lab, an immersive exhibition, showcased cutting-edge marine science and technology at the West Sussex the exhibits was a 3D-printed model of The Endurance shipwreck which was discovered in 2022 after sinking on an Antarctic expedition in 1914. The event highlighted how innovation is helping scientists explore the ocean floor, track marine life, and preserve fragile ecosystems. Future Lab also showcased the Seabed 2030 project, which aims to map the entire ocean floor by the end of the Hall, from the project, told BBC Radio Sussex: "We still don't have a complete map of the seabed. "People say we know more about the moon than the ocean - and they are right."The Future Lab also featured a 1.5m (4.9ft) model of The Endurance, the ship used by Sir Ernest Shackleton during his ill-fated expedition. The vessel was crushed by ice and sank in the Weddell Sea, but was found well-preserved more than a century later in 2022. Elena Lewendon from the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, which led the discovery, said: "It was pitch black down there, but the Antarctic Circumpolar Current protects the wreck from decay. We could still see paint on the hull." The team used defence-grade laser scanning and stitched together 25,000 high-resolution images to create a digital model accurate to the resulting 3D print, produced over 350 hours, includes remarkable details such as intact railings, the ship's wheel, and even artefacts like a flare gun believed to have been fired by Shackleton himself. "Most of the damage happened at the surface as the ship was crushed," said Ms Lewendon. "It went down 3,008 metres with quite a whack."Shackleton, who later lived in Eastbourne, East Sussex, famously sent a telegram to the press - not his wife - after returning via the Falklands.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's oil sector breaks new ground with export of deepwater suction anchors to Brazil
China's oil and gas industry has passed a fresh milestone in its push to become a leading exporter of advanced offshore drilling equipment, as a state-owned company made its first delivery of a new kind of deep-sea suction anchor to Brazil. The 24 suction caissons – which are capable of operating at depths of up to 2,000 metres – will be used to secure platforms at the Mero ultra-deepwater oilfield off Brazil's southeastern coastline, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday. The delivery represents a milestone for China's push to become a leading manufacturer of offshore oil and gas equipment, one of the strategic fields targeted in Beijing's Made in China 2025 industrial strategy The 24 units were designed, built and loaded at a deepwater base operated by the China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. They are among the most advanced offshore equipment developed by a Chinese company ever to be shipped overseas, CCTV said. CNOOC, China's largest offshore oil and gas producer, has seen its reserves surge in recent years. It recently announced the discovery of a major oilfield deep below an eastern section of the South China Sea, with proven reserves exceeding 100 million tonnes. China and Brazil have been strengthening cooperation on energy in recent years, as the two members of the Brics bloc of emerging economies deepen ties across a slew of areas.
Sustainability Times
13-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'These Depths Hide Monsters': Marine Biologists Staggered by Discovery of a Brand-New Deep-Sea Predator Species Lurking 26,250 Feet Below the Surface
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 Atacama Trench : A deep-sea canyon off South America's coast, home to unique and rare fauna adapted to extreme conditions. : A deep-sea canyon off South America's coast, home to unique and rare fauna adapted to extreme conditions. 🦐 Discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca : A new species of predatory crustacean, showcasing unexpected ecological behavior in the abyss. : A new species of predatory crustacean, showcasing unexpected ecological behavior in the abyss. 🔬 Abyssal Gigantism : The newly found crustacean exemplifies this phenomenon, achieving disproportionate size in resource-poor environments. : The newly found crustacean exemplifies this phenomenon, achieving disproportionate size in resource-poor environments. 🚢 Advanced Expeditions: Sophisticated technology reveals the ocean's hidden biodiversity, emphasizing the importance of ongoing exploration. In the depths of the Pacific Ocean, beneath nearly 26,000 feet of water, a recent discovery is reshaping our understanding of extreme marine ecosystems. This discovery, a previously unknown crustacean, goes beyond zoological significance; it introduces a new predator into the abyssal food chain. The Atacama Trench, carved by tectonic forces off the coast of Chile, was thought to host only scavenging organisms adapted to scarce life. Yet, an unknown crustacean, morphologically designed for hunting, reveals an unsuspected predator capable of thriving in this harsh environment. The Unique Ecosystem of the Atacama Trench Off the west coast of South America, the Atacama Trench plunges nearly 26,000 feet deep. This underwater canyon, formed by the subduction of the Nazca and South American plates, harbors a rare fauna, uniquely adapted to some of the planet's most hostile conditions. The trench is shrouded in darkness, with temperatures nearing freezing and immense pressure crushing down. The Atacama Trench stands out among oceanic trenches for its isolation and rich sediments, which are nourished by nutrient-rich surface waters. Since the 1960s, numerous expeditions have explored this remote area, uncovering remarkable biodiversity adapted to extreme conditions. Holothurians, mollusks, and scavenging amphipods have been recorded, playing a crucial role in cleaning up ocean floor carcasses. 'A New Monster From the Abyss': Scientists Stunned as Unknown Deep-Sea Predator Emerges From Earth's Darkest Depths Until recently, all amphipods recorded at these depths were scavengers. No active predators had been observed, leaving the trench an ecosystem misunderstood. The discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca challenges this model, indicating a more complex ecological dynamic. What This Abyssal Predator Reveals About Species Evolution Described in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity, this crustacean, measuring under 1.5 inches, belongs to a new species and genus. Its name, Dulcibella camanchaca, evokes both the gentle beauty of medieval poetry and the dense fog of the Atacama Desert, symbolizing its dark habitat. 'Thousands of Giant Eggs Found': Underwater Volcano Unleashes Terrifying Discovery That Has Marine Scientists in Total Shock Unlike scavenging species, Dulcibella exhibits an anatomy tailored for hunting. Its streamlined body, flexible limbs, and mouth adapted for shredding suggest it preys on small bottom-dwelling species like Hirondellea amphipods. Although stomach examinations have yet to confirm this diet, its morphology suggests predatory behavior. This discovery highlights that marine trenches harbor not just unique life forms but also unexpected ecological behaviors. This species is the first in its family to combine morphological and genetic traits distinct enough to warrant a new genus. Toronto's Stunning Green Revolution Turns Canada's Largest Metropolis Into a Vast Urban Forest Visible From Space The predator also exemplifies a fascinating case of abyssal gigantism. At nearly 26,000 feet deep, it achieves a size disproportionate to its shallower relatives. Though not fully understood, this phenomenon might reflect an adaptation strategy to resource-poor environments. Increasingly Sophisticated Expeditions to Explore Marine Life In October 2023, a lander deployed from the vessel R/V Abate Molina captured Dulcibella camanchaca at 25,928 feet deep. Developed by the Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, the device was equipped with bait traps, measuring instruments, and cameras. Ironically, the camera malfunctioned before reaching the seabed, depriving researchers of real-time footage. Only after weeks of analysis did the team identify the specimen's novelty through a cross-taxonomic approach combining morphological observation and DNA sequencing. This integration confirmed genetic kinship with other genera while highlighting differences sufficient to establish a distinct lineage. This discovery underscores that oceanic trenches still harbor a largely underestimated reservoir of biodiversity. The emergence of an active predator at such depths reveals more complex trophic interactions than previously thought. It also reminds us that each hadal expedition can bring surprises, emphasizing the importance of exploration amid the global biodiversity crisis. As the mysteries of the Atacama Trench continue to unfold, the recent discovery of Dulcibella camanchaca prompts a reevaluation of deep-sea ecosystems. With advanced technology and persistent exploration, the ocean's hidden depths hold potential breakthroughs for understanding life's adaptability. What other secrets might the abyss conceal, waiting to transform our insights into the natural world? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (28)
