AssetID: 53038585
Headline: Alaskan Ocean's 'Mysterious Golden Orb' Still Unidentified After Recovery
Caption: A mysterious gold orb, a little over 10 centimeters (4 inches) in diameter was found in the Gulf of Alaska by scientists on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Okeanos Explorer on 30 August 2023. The mystery specimen was tightly adhered to a rock and a small hole or tear near its base revealed a similarly coloured interior. As cameras zoomed in, scientists were stumped as to its identification, with initial thoughts ranging from a dead sponge attachment to coral, to an egg casing. NOAA Ocean Exploration’s Sam Candio said the scientists are still at a loss as to what the orb might be. “While we were able to collect the 'golden orb' and bring it onto the ship, we still are not able to identify it beyond the fact that it is biological in origin. “We likely won't learn more until we are able to get it into a laboratory setting”. As a result, it's still unclear if the golden dome is associated with a known species, a new species, or perhaps represents an unknown life stage of an existing one. However, Sam elaborated on the importance of ocean exploration. “New species have the potential to reveal new sources for medical therapies and vaccines, food, energy, and other societal benefits and knowledge”.
Keywords: Alaska,Ocean,Seas,Golden Orb,Golden Egg,Gold,Animals,Nature,Egg Casing,National Oceanic,Atmospheric Administration,NOAA,Ship,Okeanos Explorer,Seascape Alaska 5,Gulf of Alaska,Sea,Sam Candio,Curiosity,Offbeat
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