Alaska deep-sea “Golden Orb” mystery unlocked by researchers
Researchers discovered a mysterious 'golden orb' deep off Alaska's coast, which was confirmed to be the remnants of a deep-sea sea anemone. The discovery was made during an expedition aboard NOAA's research vessel Okeanos Explorer in August 2023.
Scientists decoded a mysterious 'golden orb' discovered deep off Alaska's coast in August 2023. The discovery was made during an expedition aboard NOAA's research vessel Okeanos Explorer, while surveying a submerged seamount in the Gulf of Alaska. Researchers used advanced underwater vehicles to encounter the glowing, dome-like structure attached to a rock on the seafloor. The specimen was extracted and transported to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History for investigation. DNA sequencing revealed the structure was genetically linked to deep-sea sea anemones, specifically Relicanthus daphneae. The golden formation was created through a slow biological process where the anemone secreted a protective substance, forming the orb-like shell.
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