Mystery of the ‘Golden Orb’ Found at the Bottom of the Ocean in 2023 Was Finally Solved
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- In August 2023, NOAA scientists discovered a mysterious small golden dome attached to a rock nearly two miles deep in the Gulf of Alaska during the Seascape Alaska expedition using a remotely operated vehicle.
- The dome, about four inches across with a small hole, was initially thought to be biological but its exact nature remained unknown after initial DNA testing.
- After nearly three years of advanced genetic analysis, the object was identified as a piece of tissue from Relicanthus daphneae, a rare deep-sea giant sea anemone species that lives in extreme ocean depths.
- The golden orb is formed from dead cells at the base of the anemone, which attach it to the seafloor, highlighting the complex and largely unexplored nature of deep ocean environments.
- This discovery underscores how much of the ocean floor remains unmapped and mysterious, reminding travelers and scientists alike of the ongoing surprises beneath the waves.
