Cientistas of Administração Nacional Oceânica and Atmosférica (NOAA) announced the identification of a mysterious golden object found thousands of feet underground in Golfo of Alasca in 2023. The orb, which intrigued the scientific community for months, was finally classified as the base of a giant sea anemone, as revealed by the agency last Wednesday. The discovery ends a complex marine enigma that required the work of a multidisciplinary team.
The object was first spotted by a remotely operated underwater vehicle while exploring the frigid depths of the ocean. More than three kilometers below the surface, the device captured images of an unusual “golden ball”, shaped like a mound with a central hole, firmly attached to a rock. The initial analysis did not allow immediate identification, leading the specimen to be collected and sent for in-depth studies.
The intriguing discovery in remote waters
The “golden orb” caught the attention of researchers due to its peculiar appearance and location in such an inhospitable environment. The underwater vehicle, part of a NOAA exploration mission, was performing routine scans when the object was detected on August 30, 2023. Sua’s smooth surface and unusual color raised several hypotheses, from an egg of some unknown species to an organism completely new to science.
The specimen was collected with caution to preserve its physical and biological characteristics. Após was removed from the seabed, the object was transported to Museu Nacional of História Natural Smithsonian, in Washington, D.C., where experts would dedicate themselves to unraveling its origin. Esse thorough process is crucial to ensure all potential information is extracted without compromising the sample.
Desafio scientific to identify the organism
Identification of the golden orb was not a simple task, as initially expected. Allen Collins, director of NOAA’s Laboratório Nacional Sistemática Fisheries and zoologist, mentioned that the case required “concentrated efforts and the expertise of several different people.” Ele highlighted the complexity of the mystery, which required knowledge in morphology, genetics, deep marine sciences and bioinformatics.
Scientists began the study with the physical structure of the orb, looking for clues about its composition. Eles soon realized that it was not a complete animal, but rather “fibrous material”. Esse material was covered in stinging cells, similar to those found in anemones or corals. Essas cells, known as spirocysts, are specialized in capturing prey, a characteristic exclusive to a group of aquatic invertebrates: the cnidarians.
Análise genetics decisive for classification
The similarity of the orb’s cells to those observed in a specimen collected in 2021 was a turning point in the investigation. The research team then compared the two objects, confirming that they belonged to the same species. Este initial alignment was crucial to focus the following steps of the analysis, directing efforts to a specific group of marine organisms.
Initial DNA tests, while promising, were inconclusive. However, full genome sequencing of both specimens revealed that they were “genetically almost identical” to a type of cnidarian called *Relicanthus daphneae*. Additional Análises confirmed that the orb “had once been part of the base of a giant sea anemone,” according to an explanatory video released by NOAA about the entire identification process.
- Características from *Relicanthus daphneae*:
- Corpo cylindrical predominantly pink.
- Pode reach up to one meter in diameter.
- Tentáculos capable of extending nearly two meters.
- Possui the largest stinging spirocysts known among all cnidarians.
- Geralmente lives hidden under the complete anemone.
The enigma of the giant sea anemone
The golden object, which captured the world’s attention, normally remains hidden beneath the structure of the sea anemone. The NOAA team suggested that, for some as yet unknown reason, this “orb” appears to have broken off or been left behind. What happened to the anemone’s top is still a mystery, but researchers theorize that it may have died or moved to a new location, leaving its base behind in the depths of the ocean.
The identification of this object highlights the importance of continued exploration of the ocean depths. William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration, stressed that the agency often encounters “fascinating mysteries” on its missions. Ele emphasized that “with advanced techniques such as DNA sequencing, we are able to unravel more and more of these mysteries”, justifying the persistence in exploration to understand the ocean and its resources. The discovery contributes significantly to the knowledge of marine biodiversity and deep-sea ecosystems, which are often little explored.