‘Golden Orb’ Found at Ocean Bottom Leaves Scientists Puzzled

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were exploring the Gulf of Alaska when their remote-controlled submarine’s lights illuminated a peculiar sight: a shimmering, golden orb tightly adhered to a rocky outcrop.

The smooth, dome-shaped specimen, measuring slightly over 4 inches in diameter, features a small hole or tear near its base, revealing a similarly colored interior.

As the live-streamed video zoomed in on the bizarre object, researchers couldn’t help but speculate about its origins. Could it be a coral? An egg laid by an unknown creature? Or perhaps a strange type of sponge?

The Seascape Alaska 5 Expedition

NOAA has been conducting the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition, utilizing remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to explore the deepwater habitats off the coast of Alaska. 

The five-month mission aims to investigate and map unexplored deep habitats and seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska, with researchers hoping to better understand the marine habitat and how it should be managed to protect species, geology, and potential resources.

During one of these dives on August 30, 2023, the team stumbled upon the mysterious golden orb while gliding over a rocky outcrop at a depth of about 2 miles. The live-streamed video captured the moment of discovery, with one videographer referring to the object as a “yellow hat” amid a smattering of white sponges.^(ref)

Theories Abound: Egg, Coral, or Sponge?

Scientists aboard #Okaneos are trying to crack this golden egg mystery! What do you think it could be?? https://t.co/cpsrUOaGxh

— NOAA Research (@NOAAResearch) August 31, 2023

As cameras zoomed in, scientists were stumped about its identification, with initial thoughts ranging from a dead sponge attachment to coral or an egg casing. The leading theories suggest that the gold orb could be an egg case of a potentially unknown species or a type of sponge.

Sam Candio, NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition coordinator, leans towards the egg case theory but remains excited to find out the truth. On the other hand, Jon Copley, a professor of deep-sea ecology and ocean exploration at the University of Southampton, speculates that it could be a sponge due to its fibrous texture, though he emphasizes that this is pure speculation without proper examination.^(ref)

The team even managed to collect the orb and bring it aboard their ship for further analysis, but its true nature remains elusive.

Preserving the Mystery for Future Study

For now, the golden orb is being preserved in ethanol and is awaiting a more thorough examination by experts at the Smithsonian Institution. Scientists worldwide will have the opportunity to study this unique find, hopefully shedding light on its identity and the role it plays in the deep-sea ecosystem.

Candio explained that once the mapping of the region is complete, they will ship all the samples to the Smithsonian, where scientists around the world can access them and provide further analysis.

Until then, the mystery will remain as scientists continue to look for clues in the video data.

A Reminder of the Ocean’s Secrets

With an estimated 95% of the underwater world still unexplored, it’s no wonder that we continue to encounter strange and mysterious creatures that defy our current understanding of marine life.

The world’s oceans cover around 70% of Earth’s surface yet just about 26.1% Image Credit: Viral Chatterof the seafloor has been mapped.^(ref) Up to 1 million species may inhabit the oceans, two-thirds of which have yet to be discovered.

As the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition continues, we can only imagine what other wonders await discovery in the depths of the Alaskan ocean.

Disclaimer: Some images in this content were created with the help of AI.