deep-sea scientists

Scientists and commercial fishermen in the United States are calling on federal agencies to continue funding a deep-ocean observation system that monitors conditions far below the surface. The system provides data used for research and fishing operations, and supporters warn that cutting funding would leave a gap in understanding of deep-sea conditions and their effects on marine life and coastal economies.

Scientists conducting deep-sea research have discovered an unexpected creature living around 3,000 feet beneath the ocean's surface. One of the researchers described the sighting as shocking, suggesting the animal was found well outside its known habitat or depth range. The finding is drawing attention from marine biology enthusiasts and highlights how little is still known about life in the deep ocean.

Scientists report the discovery of a so-called "fire amoeba", an organism said to survive at temperatures beyond what was thought to be life's upper limit. If confirmed, the find would force a rethink of the thermal boundaries of life on Earth, with implications for the search for life in extreme environments such as deep-sea vents and possibly other planets.

Oceanographer and geographer Dawn Wright has given an interview with Yale School of the Environment discussing efforts to map the ocean floor, often called mapping the abyss. Wright, known for her work in ocean science and previously as chief scientist at Esri, talks through the state of deep-sea exploration and why complete seafloor mapping remains a major scientific challenge. The conversation highlights how little of the ocean bottom has been charted in detail.