Odd Golden Orb Found 3,300 Meters Deep Into the Ocean Puzzles Scientists

Last year, a remotely operated underwater vehicle of NOAA Ocean Exploration was able to come across an odd golden orb roughly 3,300 meters below the surface off the Alaskan coast.

Odd Golden Orb

The odd orb appeared to be tightly adhered to a rock that had white sponges dotting over it. The object was roughly 10 centimeters in diameter and had a hole on one of its sides.

The exact nature of the mysterious orb was unclear. Preliminary suggestions from the researchers that were holding a livestream of the dive included a coral, a dead sponge, or an egg casing of a mysterious creature.

One researcher expressed not knowing what to make of the object, while another speculated that with the orb's big hole, something tried to either get in or out of it.

A Possible Egg

Among the possible explanations, the specific claim that has garnered the favor of scientists is that something could have hatched out of the golden orb. This creature may not have been small.

Kerry Howell, a deep-sea ecologist from the University of Plymouth, explained that they opt for the egg explanation due to the orb's texture. The golden orb had a fleshy feel and did not have any clear anatomy. The hole that is present on it suggests that something either went in or out.

If the orb is indeed an egg, the question would be which species' egg it is. The orb is notably big, suggesting that it is not a small fish egg.

With the help of a robotic arm, the researchers nudged the orb gently and determined that it was relatively soft. They did so prior to collecting it through suction for further analysis. To know the organism responsible for the orb, DNA analysis was set to be held.

The fact that the orb was alone is also another intriguing mystery. In most cases, oviparous creatures lay their eggs within clutches. Hence, if the orb is truly an egg, there is something odd about it.

Sam Candio, the exploration coordinator of the NOAA Ocean Exploration, explained that though they were able to get the orb and bring it aboard, they were not able to find more about it other than the fact that it has biological origins.

The mission looked into the Gulf of Alaska, going as deep as four miles. This exploration covers deep-sea sponge and coral habitats and several geological features, including mud volcanoes.

Check out more news and information on Environment & Climate in Science Times.