News.Life

深海驚現「暗氧」之谜：科学家观点大相径庭

DIWIDA.NEWS earth science, metals, science, underwater, water

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1B5sQd" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1B5sQd.jpg"/>

 （法新社法國布勒斯特17日電） 去年1項研究發現，在海洋最深、最暗處，塊狀金屬岩石能在沒有陽光的情況下製造氧氣。一些科學家認為有可能，另一些則質疑是否真的能在無光的海底深淵產生所謂的「暗氧」。


 根據這項去年7月發表在英國期刊「自然地球科學」（Nature Geoscience）的研究，馬鈴薯大小的礦結核可以產生足夠的電壓，將水分解為氫和氧，這個過程也被稱為電解。


 這讓長久以來的觀點受到質疑，即大約27億年前，當微生物開始透過需要陽光進行的光合作用產生氧氣，生命才得以存在。


 蘇格蘭海洋科学协会（Scottish Association for Marine Science）在其发布这项研究的新闻稿中指出：“深海中的发现引发了对生命起源的质疑。”


 環保人士認為，暗氧的存在顯示人類對位於極端深度的生命所知甚少，並支持他們聲稱深海採礦會帶來無法接受的生態風險這項論點。


 研究人員在克拉里恩－克利珀頓地區（Clarion-Clipperton Zone）發現這一現象，這是位於墨西哥和夏威夷間的一片太平洋海底區域。


 在距離海面約4公里深的海底散布著多金屬結核（polymetallic nodule），由於這些礦結核中含有錳、鎳和鈷等常用於電動車電池和低碳技術的金屬，礦業公司對這個區域的興趣也日漸增長。


 這項研究部分由加拿大深海採礦公司「金屬公司」（The Metals Company）資助，希望評估此類探勘活動對生態的影響。


 但在發現暗氧後，金屬公司強烈批評海洋生態學家史威特曼（Andrew Sweetman）及其團隊的研究，稱其存在「方法論缺陷」。


 史威特曼的發現引起了轟動，許多科學界人士對其持保留態度或直接駁斥。自去年7月以來，已有5篇反駁史威特曼研究結果的學術研究論文提交審查或發表。


 德國基爾亥姆霍茲海洋研究中心（GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel）的生物地球化學專家賀kel教授指出：「他並未提供其觀點與猜測的确鑿證明。」


 法國海洋開發研究院（Ifremer）地球化學研究員魯克塞爾（Olivier Rouxel）則指出，「深海採樣始終是個挑戰」，他補充說，檢測到的氧氣可能是「被困在測量儀器中的氣泡」。


 他對一些已有數千萬年歷史的深海礦結核是否仍能產生足夠電壓表示懷疑，因為「電池的電量很快就耗盡」。

深海驚現「暗氧」之谜：科学家观点大相径庭

（法新社法國布勒斯特17日電）去年1項研究發現，在海洋最深、最暗處，塊狀金屬岩石能在沒有陽光的情況下製造氧氣。一些科學家認為有可能，另一些則質疑是否真的能在無光的海底深淵產生所謂的「暗氧」。根據這項去年7月發表在英國期刊「自然地球科學」（Nature Geo...

Visible depuis l’espace, cette immense créature marine intrigue les scientifiques (VIDEO)

DIWIDA.NEWS ecology, french, marine animals, science, underwater

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1AhHYZ" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1AhHYZ.jpg"/>

 
 Plus grande encore que la baleine bleue. Cette découverte vient d’être faite dans les eaux du Pacifique.
 


 C’est aux environs des îles Salomon, dans une zone surnommée “Three Sisters” (ou Trois Soeurs en français) qu’un groupe de scientifiques du National Geographic est tombé sur le plus corail du monde, trois fois supérieure au précédent détenteur du record, indique le média
 
 Demotivateur
 
 . L'écologiste marin, Enric Sala, confie :


 
 “Alors que nous pensions qu’il n’y avait plus rien à découvrir sur la planète terre, nous avons trouvé un corail massif composé de près d’un milliard de petits polypes, débordant de vie et de couleurs”.
 


 L’équipe du National Geographic souligne que la structure autonome s’est développée durant près de 300 ans, partant d’un “réseau complexe” de minuscules polypes coralliens. Et de poursuivre : “elle se distingue d’un récif corallien, constitué de nombreuses colonies distinctes”.


 
 Comme une glace qui s’étend sur le fond marin
 


 Il s’agit-là du plus grand corail du monde, aux dimensions hors norme (supérieures à celles d’une baleine bleue). Dépassant le corail baptisé “Big Momma”, cette structure récemment découverte fait 34 mètres de large sur 32 de long. Molly Timmers, scientifique principale de l’expédition, précise :
 
 “alors que Big Momma ressemblait à une énorme boule de glace posée sur le récif, ce corail nouvellement découvert est comme si la glace avait commencé à fondre, s’étalant indéfiniment sur le fond marin”.
 


 Une nouvelle colonie que, selon les dires de la scientifique, serait observable desde l'espace. Le spécialiste des coraux, Eric Brown, a en outre précisé :
 
 Étant donné que les récifs peu profonds à proximité ont subi des dommages en raison de la montée des températures océaniques, cet important écosystème coralien bien préservé dans des eaux un peu plus profondes représente un espoir.
 


 (ASD - Source : Le Démotivateur - Illustration : Unsplash)

<div>
 
 
</div>

 
 
 Assurez-vous de lire tous nos articles sur MSN en vous abonneant à nos contenus. Pour ce faire, cliquez sur "suivre" situé juste au dessus, près de notre logo.

Visible depuis l’espace, cette immense créature marine intrigue les scientifiques (VIDEO)

Plus grande encore que la baleine bleue. Cette découverte vient d’être faite dans les eaux du Pacifique. C’est aux environs des î...

Scientists Uncover Enormous Living Eggs Deep Within an Underwater Volcano Off Ireland's Coast

DIWIDA.NEWS biodiversity, marine animals, science, underwater, volcanoes

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1ByFB9" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1ByFB9.jpg"/>


 In an astounding discovery, researchers have uncovered
 
 thousands
 
 of
 
 giant
 
 eggs in an
 
 underwater volcano
 
 off the coast of
 
 Vancouver Island
 
 , Canada. These eggs belong to the elusive
 
 Pacific white skate
 
 , were uncovered in waters once thought too
 
 cold
 
 and devoid of life to back up such an astonishing discovery.

<h2>
 A Discovery That Defies Expectations
</h2>

 For years, the underwater volcano near Vancouver Island was believed to be
 
 extinct
 
 . Scientists had assumed that the surrounding waters were too cold to
 support much marine life
 .


 Nevertheless, in a 2019 exploration conducted by the deep-ocean researcher,
 
 Cherisse Du Preez
 
 of
 
 Fisheries and Oceans Canada
 
 , the team revealed a surprising fact: the seamount, once thought to be inactive, is in reality an active
 
 active
 
 underwater volcano.


 This finding altered the perception of the area, showing that the volcano emits
 
 warm
 
 ,
 
 mineral-rich
 
 Water—far from being lifeless, the region housed an unexpected variety of sea creatures.

<h2>
 The Mystery of the Giant Eggs
</h2>

 The
 
 discovery of thousands of eggs
 
 belonging to the Pacific white skate was one of the most astonishing finds of the expedition. These giant eggs, known as “mermaid purses” due to their distinctive purse-like shape, are approximately
 
 1.5 feet
 
 across, making them an impressive sight.


 The eggs were found on the
 
 summit
 
 of the underwater volcano, nearly one mile beneath the ocean’s surface. This area, with its warm,
 
 geothermal
 
 environment, offers a stark contrast to the cold waters typically inhabited by the Pacific white skate.


 Researchers were left astounded by the fact that these eggs were
 
 alive
 
 Unlike dinosaur eggs discovered in other parts of the globe, such as the 80 million-year-old fossilized eggs unearthed in Ganzhou City, China, these remained
 
 living
 
 .


 The geothermal activity of the volcano offers
 
 warmth
 
 for the eggs, potentially aiding in accelerating their extended four-year process
 
 gestation period
 
 This is essential as the eggs, due to their small size, necessitate considerable care.
 
 energy
 
 for development.

<div>
 
 
</div>
<h2>
 How Do These Eggs Survive in the Deep?
</h2>

 The Pacific white skate (Bathyraja spinosissima) is a deep-sea species typically found in cold Pacific Ocean waters at depths ranging from 2,600 to 9,500 feet.


 The
 
 female skates
 
 are known to produce large eggs, exerting enormous energy to provide essential
 
 nutrients
 
 for their developing young. These eggs, which can grow up to
 
 1.5 feet
 
 across, are uniquely shaped, resembling purses, earning them the nickname “mermaid purses.”


 One of the most intriguing aspects of the discovery is how the Pacific white skate uses the heat from the
 underwater volcano
 to its advantage. The warmth from the volcano accelerates the development of the eggs, shortening the usual four-year gestation period. Du Preez believes the warm water provides a natural incubator that ensures the survival of the young skates.


 She explained, “The shallow summit of the seamount is almost a coral garden and a safe nursery for juveniles to grow before they descend to the deep.”

<h2>
 Why Do These Skates Use an Underwater Volcano as a Nursery?
</h2>

 This isn’t the first time scientists have observed deep-sea species using volcanic heat for reproduction. In 2018, researchers discovered similar eggs in the Galápagos Islands near hydrothermal vents.


 While those eggs were much smaller, measuring just over four inches long, the discovery pointed to a similar conclusion: deep-sea species use volcanic and hydrothermal environments to help incubate their eggs.


 The Pacific white skates’ eggs near Vancouver Island are much larger, which suggests that the geothermal heat plays an even more significant role in speeding up the development of the young..


 Open the Youtube video

<h2>
 Future Exploration and Preservation Efforts
</h2>

 Following the 2019 discovery, the research team returned to the site in
 
 2023
 
 for further investigation. During their two-week expedition, they captured live footage of a Pacific white skate laying an
 
 egg
 
 and gathered evidence that more than one skate species was utilizing the same volcanic site as a
 
 nursery
 
 .


 The scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada are committed to closely monitoring the area to ensure the protection of this fragile
 
 ecosystem
 
 . They are particularly focused on safeguarding the
 
 seamount
 
 and its surrounding environment from the threat of
 
 overfishing
 
 and other human impacts.


 This discovery is not only a stunning revelation about how deep-sea species adapt to harsh environments, but it also highlights the importance of
 
 geothermal environments
 
 in supporting marine life. The research team continues to monitor the site, they aim to further understand how volcanic and hydrothermal environments influence species’ survival and development.


 
 Enjoyed this article?
 
 Subscribe to our free newsletter
 for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.


 For more news like this, visit
 .

Scientists Uncover Enormous Living Eggs Deep Within an Underwater Volcano Off Ireland's Coast

In an astounding discovery, researchers have uncovered thousands of giant eggs in an underwater volcano off the c...

Scientist Unveils the Secret: How Seals Stay Afloat While Diving

DIWIDA.NEWS ecology, marine animals, science, sea creatures, underwater

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BkPx3" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BkPx3.jpg"/>

 A researcher hailing from Northern Ireland has uncovered an extraordinary sensory ability that enables marine mammals to become unparalleled divers.


 Dr. Chris McKnight from County Antrim has been studying why seals can remain submerged without breathing for extended periods compared to numerous other animal species as part of his research at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.


 He discovered that, apart from effectively storing oxygen, they possess a distinctive capability to mentally gauge the levels in their bloodstream to prevent drowning.


 "It's tremendously exciting to discover such a crucial element of marine mammal evolution, which plays a vital role in much of their activity—diving," stated Dr. McKnight.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BkH54" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BkH54.jpg"/>

 He emphasized that the adaptation was crucial for the development of marine mammals such as seals and walruses, enabling both these creatures and possibly other breath-holding divers—like certain birds and reptiles—to lead lives largely devoid of surface time during underwater excursions.


 "Discovering such a crucial element of marine mammal evolution, which plays a vital role in much of their activity—diving—is immensely thrilling," stated Dr. McKnight.


 It feels as though it was hiding right beneath our noses all along.


 "It may appear straightforward and logical that seals can detect oxygen levels, which aids them in making choices to avoid running out of air and drowning; however, from an evolutionary perspective, this places both the species and their bodily functions among the most distinctively adapted creatures," he explained.


 While scientists knew
 <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22853482?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bmicrosoft%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D">
 How do mammals manage to remain underwater without breathing for such extended periods?
 </a>
 , they were unaware that they were measuring the duration of their dives.


 To determine this, six young seals were observed at the university's Sea Mammal Research Unit over nearly a year, examining how they modified their behavior based on varying levels of oxygen availability.


 Seals such as Trish and Oisin voluntarily dove into the unit's pool to catch fish while under observation.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1BkLmw" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1BkLmw.jpg"/>

 The atmospheres they encountered had been modified to change the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide.


 The length of each dive increased with greater access to oxygen, yet carbon dioxide played no role in this effect.


 This demonstrated that the seals are not as sensitive to carbon dioxide as some other species might be.


 Dr Joanna Kershaw, one of the report’s authors, commended the skill and commitment of the research group.


 She expressed her excitement about working with these incredible creatures and discovering one of the key factors behind their perfect adaptation to their habitat.

<ul>
 <li>
 <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22853482?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bmicrosoft%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D">
 Deep-diving mammals' secret revealed
 </a>
 </li>
</ul>
<ul>
 <li>
 <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0rzqed9z42o?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bmicrosoft%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D">
 Winner of acclaimed photograph 'wore seaweed on head'
 </a>
 </li>
 <li>
 <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c0kkpqljdlko?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bmicrosoft%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D">
 Why researchers are employing a crossbow for whale studies
 </a>
 </li>
 <li>
 <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mw1yvvmw7o?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bmicrosoft%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D">
 Thousands of seals were tallied with the help of artificial intelligence and drones.
 </a>
 </li>
</ul>

Scientist Unveils the Secret: How Seals Stay Afloat While Diving

A researcher hailing from Northern Ireland has uncovered an extraordinary sensory ability that enables marine mammals to become unparalle...

Felfedezés Shockolt Tudósokat Ellátó Ócean Deep-Sea Pont Magyarországon

DIWIDA.NEWS astronomers, atlantic ocean, science, underwater, world

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1B3Bwz" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1B3Bwz.jpg"/>

 Nem minden napireportert adott ki azért aggodalomra okozó tapasztalatot egy kutató, aki a Challenger Deep-névvel megnevezettt 11 ezer méter mélységben található Mariana-árok dél-vendéknyi részén dolgozik. Ez a földrajzi helyszín jelölhető fel úgy is, hogy az Oceánusok legsugárzás-súlya nélküli alatti pontja lett volna; csak július elejeig épp csupán 27 ember est le ide, beleértve Cameron-t, James-at.
 
 Titanic
 
 című film rendezője.


 Dr. Dawn Wright, egy másik oceáncsillagos kutató, hasonlóan felhívatlanul kifejezte aggeyű véleményét arról, hogy az emberiség akár a világ távolabb sarkainál is elhagyhat emléket.
 
 expedíció után
 
 
 egy fotót tett közzé
 
 
 a Challenger Deep óceánmélységéből, osztja meg meglepettségét, hogy
 

<div>
 <div>
 
 Üres sörfeltöltött üvegek nyugodtan feküdnek az asztalon.
 
 </div>
</div>

 „További igazságosság szükséges arról, hogy az emberek inkább felmessenek az óceánt és a Természeti környezet egyszerűbb megmaradásáról, ami közös tulajdonunk, sőt, enyhíthetné a jövőbeni problémáinkat!” - mondta dr. Wright az X-es oldalon. A Los Angeles Times előtt ezt követve emlékeztette róla, rendkívül megrázónak találta bepillantani, hogyan formálnák átal az emberi tevékenységek a bolygót leghasznosabbnak tartott területein valamiféle változást.


 „Ezen a dobosnál talált takarót végre megtalálhatták azt az egyszerűszívű dolgot, amely még nem ismertünk volna, ha saját kezeinkkel sem csinálnénk. Az ezüst dobozkák több mint 10 kilométernél nagyobb távolságra haladtak be a Csendes-óceán leghüvelykös résein, miközben az írott jelük még mindig jól olvasható volt. Ezzel jelezik, hogy az ember hány síkon képes befolyást gyakorolni a körülöttünk lévő természetre.” – mondta ki a tudós odafigyelemmel arra vonatkozva, hogy ma már sikeresen szemet fedi fel a Föld legmagasabb és legsugárzottabb helyeit is. Például korábban a „világ legmagasabb szemvédelmi dombokának” neveztek a Mount Everest tetőpontjait annyi hulladékot követve, ami ott került elhagyásra turisták általi látogatás során.


 (
 LADBible
 )


 
 (Borítókép: Búvár az óceánban. Illusztráció: Getty Images)

Felfedezés Shockolt Tudósokat Ellátó Ócean Deep-Sea Pont Magyarországon

Nem minden napireportert adott ki azért aggodalomra okozó tapasztalatot egy kutató, aki a Challenger Deep-névvel megnevezettt 11 ezer mét...

Deep-Sea Creatures Face Rush as Mining Interests Surge

DIWIDA.NEWS marine animals, mining, mining industry, sea creatures, underwater

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/BB1r6Pty" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1r6Pty.jpg"/>

 In the frigid, dark depths of the Pacific Ocean, the seafloor is strewn with metallic stones that mining companies desire greatly—alongside vast populations of bizarre and uncommon creatures that remain largely unfamiliar to scientific community.


 Scientists are hurriedly working to classify numerous recently found species with names.


 The mining sector is urging regulatory bodies to finalize guidelines that might pave the way for extracting resources from portions of the extensive Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) located between Hawaii and Mexico.


 Previously considered an undersea desert, the CCZ is now recognized for its rich biodiversity.


 They vary from minuscule worms dwelling in the murky sediments to buoyant sponges anchored to the rocks akin to water-filled balloons, and a colossal sea cucumber nicknamed the "gummy squirrel."


 Activists argue that this variety of life forms represents the genuine wealth of our planet's biggest and most mysterious ecosystem.


 Experts caution that mining activities might push species toward extinction before we can even identify them.


 The interest in extracting the "nodules," which are roughly the size of potatoes and hold metals utilized in technologies like smartphone touchscreens and rechargeable batteries, has led researchers to investigate the CCZ area.


 "As a result of our efforts to exploit that region, we now possess a much deeper comprehension of it than we otherwise would have attained," stated Tammy Horton from Britain’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC).


 Researchers have retrieved sediments using box cores launched from vessels and utilized remotely operated vehicles to capture images and gather specimens from the ocean floor.


 In any specific area of the CCZ seabed, a quick look might reveal only one lone brittle star, yet scientists rarely encounter the same individual more than once.


 Horton mentioned that there are "substantial populations of uncommon species," noting that much of this biodiversity is found within organisms residing in the sediment.


 The nodules also create their own distinct habitats, much like tiny coral gardens.

<h2>
 'First step'
</h2>

 The initial inventory of data from scientific investigations in the CCZ, released in 2023, revealed that approximately 90 percent of the 5,000 animal species documented were previously unknown to scientists.


 The ISA aims to have more than a thousand species documented by 2030 in areas of interest to mining companies.


 The process is painstaking.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1yNNWK" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1yNNWK.jpg"/>

 Whenever feasible, every creature should be illustrated, dissected, and given a molecular "barcode," which serves as a type of DNA fingerprint enabling other scientists to recognize it.


 Horton and her team of experts spent an entire year describing 27 out of over a hundred unnamed amphipods — a species of small crustaceans.


 "The primary and essential initial step towards comprehending any environment involves identifying the species present, determining their population sizes, and mapping out the extent of their habitat," she explained to AFP.


 This would outline a foundation for understanding life in the abyssal plains, enabling a clearer comprehension of possible adverse impacts.


 The conservation organization Fauna & Flora has stated that the risks include harm to the marine food chain as well as the possibility of intensifying climate change due to the disturbance of sediments that store heat-trapping carbon.


 The ISA has to finalize the global deep-sea mining regulations this year, however, significant tasks remain unfinished.

<h2>
 Cold War connections
</h2>

 The most ancient mining trial area encompasses a segment of the CCZ seafloor that was cultivated in 1979.


 Daniel Jones, a NOC researcher who sifted through archival records to determine the precise location, revealed that the operation was part of a CIA scheme aimed at retrieving a Russian nuclear submarine by disguising their efforts as deep-sea mining activities.


 According to Jones, the CIA rented a vessel for actual deep-sea mining operations.


 He discovered an ancient photo depicting the approximately eight-meter-(26-foot)-wide device utilized for collecting nodules.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1B3iBQ" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1B3iBQ.jpg"/>

 His group went to the testing location in 2023, over four decades following the initial disruption.


 He mentioned that the machine trails could still be easily seen on the ocean floor.


 Jones informed journalists lately that they observed "initial signs of biological restoration" on the mining-affected paths; however, animal populations had yet to return to their usual levels.


 The sluggish rate at which changes occur in the CCZ can be seen through the nodules, which have probably taken millions of years to form.


 Each likely began as a fragment of solid material — such as a shark’s tooth or a fish’s otolith — that came to rest on the ocean floor.


 They gradually expanded next, as they attracted minerals present in the water at very low concentrations.


 They include metals such as cobalt that are highly sought after during the energy shift.


 However, the European Academies of Science Advisory Council (EASAC) has stated that the requirement for the nodules has been exaggerated and has called for a halt to mining activities.


 Michael Norton, the EASAC Environment Director, stated that initiating deep-sea exploitation would likely prove difficult to halt thereafter.


 It’s a one-way road," he stated. "Once you head down it, you won’t turn back easily.

Deep-Sea Creatures Face Rush as Mining Interests Surge

In the frigid, dark depths of the Pacific Ocean, the seafloor is strewn with metallic stones that mining companies desire greatly—alongsi...

Scientists Unveil Mysterious "Yellow Brick Road" Beneath the Pacific Ocean

DIWIDA.NEWS archaeologists, geology, history, travel, underwater

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1tt2iU" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1tt2iU.jpg"/>

 A mission to a submerged mountain range located northeast of the Hawaiian archipelago uncovered something unexpected in 2022—a long-dormant subaqueous lakebed covered with what appears to be a golden cobblestone pathway reminiscent of Oz.


 The unsettling sight was stumbled upon by the research ship Nautilus during its examination of the Liliʻuokalani ridge.
 Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
 (PMNM).


 PMNM is among the biggest marine protected zones globally, surpassing the total area of all U.S. national parks combined, yet our exploration has barely begun.
 approximately 3 percent of its ocean floor
 .




 Scientists with the Ocean Exploration Trust are venturing into these uncharted territories located over 3,000 meters beneath the ocean’s surface, and the exciting news is that everyone has the opportunity to witness this expedition.


 A
 highlight reel
 The video content from the expedition released on YouTube in April 2022 documented the instant when scientists controlling the submersible accidentally came across what they dubbed the "road to Oz."

<div class="aspect-w-16 aspect-h-9 youtube-iframe relative">
 <img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/video/AA1ttbOX" data-reference="video"/>
</div>

 "The path leads to Atlantis," a researcher on the radio is overheard declaring.


 "The Yellow Brick Road?" another voice challenges.


 "I find this quite strange," remarks another member of the team.


 Seriously? This is insane.

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/AA1ttbOQ" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1ttbOQ.jpg"/>

 Even though it sits beneath approximately one thousand meters of seawater, the lakebed found by scientists at the peak of the Nootka seamount appears unexpectedly arid.


 On the radio, the team observes that the ground appears nearly like a "baked crust" which might come away easily.


 In a small area, the volcanic rock has broken apart in a pattern that closely resembles brickwork.


 The distinctive 90-degree cracks probably stem from thermal stresses caused by repeated heating and cooling at this outer edge of the heated region,
 reads
 A title for the YouTube video.


 Initially, this impact might be misinterpreted as a gateway to an incredible new realm. In some respects, though, that interpretation isn’t entirely off base.


 Following the yellow brick road signifies that we're moving in the correct path and might swiftly uncover much more about Earth's concealed geological secrets.


 For additional information regarding the 2022 E/V Nautilus mission, you can delve into further reading.
 here
 .


 
 A previous iteration of this piece was published in May 2022.

Scientists Unveil Mysterious "Yellow Brick Road" Beneath the Pacific Ocean

A mission to a submerged mountain range located northeast of the Hawaiian archipelago uncovered something unexpected in 2022—a long-dorma...

Scientists Scramble to Unlock Mysteries of an Enigmatic Underwater Realm

DIWIDA.NEWS culture, history, technology, underwater, world

<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/image/BB1hySOf" data-reference="image" src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BB1hySOf.jpg"/>
<ul>
 <li>
 About 8,000 years ago, numerous civilizations flourished on flatlands that today lie beneath the waters of the North and Baltic Seas.
 </li>
 <li>
 Currently, researchers affiliated with numerous academic organizations across Northern Europe are conducting an extensive investigation aimed at examining these areas and uncovering proof of ancient civilizations that once thrived there.
 </li>
 <li>
 Time is crucial because numerous areas that scientists aim to investigate are highly desirable locations for constructing wind farms necessary to address increasing sea levels.
 
 this
 
 era
 
 .
 
 </li>
</ul>

 Around 8,000 to 6,000 BCE, the North and Baltic Seas did not resemble seas; rather, they encompassed expansive grasslands where early human societies thrived. However, as the final act ended
 Ice Age
 As the water levels rose, they submerged these low-lying regions, erasing most signs of thriving communities. Almost all traces were lost.


 The University of Bradford’s Submerged Landscapes Research Centre in the UK, along with TNO Geological Survey of the Netherlands, Flanders Marine Institute, and the University of York, will shortly embark on exploring these submerged landscapes.
 civilizations
 As part of a research partnership called SUBNORDICA, one of the historic regions this initiative seeks to explore is an ancient territory.
 to explore is Doggerland
 , believed to have flourished in the North Sea area around 8,200 years ago.


 About twenty thousand years ago, the worldwide sea level stood approximately 130 meters below today's levels.
 global warming
 and
 sea-level rise
 ", vanished ancient terrains, which have been inhabited by human communities for thousands of years, were lost," stated Vincent Gaffney, who leads the Submerged Landscapes Research Centre.
 stated in a press release
 We have very limited knowledge about the inhabitants of these vast prairies. With Europe and the globe moving towards net-zero emissions, the exploration of coastal shelf areas has become a key strategic objective. The SUBNORDICA project aims to employ cutting-edge technology to investigate these regions and promote sustainable growth.


 Included among these technologies will be cutting-edge seabed mapping along with computer simulations of submerged settlements. Additionally, various AI tools, alongside seismic and acoustic surveys and drilling operations, will be employed. The University of Bradford announced this in March.
 disclosed its intention to examine information collected through magnetometer surveys
 Designed for evaluating the environmental impact of upcoming green energy projects, university experts suggest that magnetic fields can assist in pinpointing "areas rich in peat... or locations where erosion has taken place, such as within river channels."


 Time is crucial when examining these submerged ancient societies. Many millennia past, an extra 7.7 million square miles stood above the waves, with about 1.16 million square miles situated near Europe’s current shores. Experts characterize this area as "the prime territory along Europe’s present-day coast."
 prehistoric
 settling anywhere within the continent."


 Today, this area mostly constitutes the coastal shelf that various North Sea countries are now developing for offshore wind farms to address climate change.
 climate change
 This significant growth in green energy infrastructure might restrict scientific exploration of these regions, which is why initiatives such as SUBNORDICA are hurrying to study the region before opportunities become scarce.


 SUBNORDICA aims to explore the importance of ancient shorelines and their resources for human populations. By conducting diving surveys in Aarhus Bay within Denmark, we intend to assess the prevalence of coastal communities relative to inland ones during this period and understand how marine resources were utilized from approximately 9000 to 8500 years ago," stated Peter Moe Astrup, an underwater archaeologist at Denmark’s Moesgaard Museum, in a press release. "Subsequently, this information will guide our efforts.
 archaeological
 inquiries in harder-to-reach regions."


 As countries battle escalating sea levels—a struggle that.some
 The North Sea nations have never fully concluded
 —scientists are hurriedly working to uncover what occurred with these ancient humans who also went through an increase in temperature
 temperature
 those that threatened and ultimately defeated their civilizations.

<h2 class="body-h2">
 The 2023 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards: Electric Vehicles
</h2>
<img data-document-id="cms/api/amp/slideshow/AA149qTW" data-reference="slideshow"/>

Scientists Scramble to Unlock Mysteries of an Enigmatic Underwater Realm

About 8,000 years ago, numerous civilizations flourished on flatlands that today lie beneath the waters of the North and Baltic Seas. ...