While exploring the ocean floor off the coast of Alaska, researchers have made a surprising discovery – a mysterious “golden orb” that could potentially be a new and previously unknown species. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made the finding during a dive in the Gulf of Alaska on August 30th. The specimen was described as a smooth, gold, dome-shaped object, approximately 4 inches in diameter, tightly adhered to a rock. Its identification has stumped scientists, with initial thoughts ranging from a dead sponge attachment to coral or an egg casing.
An image released following the dive shows a researcher holding the orb in their hand. Despite being able to bring the orb back onto the ship, researchers still cannot definitively identify it beyond the fact that it is of biological origin. More information is expected to be revealed once the orb is analyzed in a laboratory setting with more sophisticated tools.
The NOAA stated that it is uncertain whether the golden orb is associated with a known species, a new species, or perhaps an unknown life stage of an existing species. The discovery serves as a reminder of how little we know about our own planet and the vast amount that still remains to be discovered and understood about the ocean.
The ongoing Seascape Alaska 5: Gulf of Alaska Remotely Operated Vehicle Exploration and Mapping expedition, during which the golden orb was found, is set to continue through September 16th. Daily live-streamed dives are being conducted between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET.
