A NOAA ROV recovered a soft, golden orb about 10 cm across from 3,300 meters beneath the Alaskan sea. Observers proposed it might be an egg casing, a dead sponge, or coral; one hole in the object suggests something entered or exited. The team collected the specimen by suction and confirmed it is biological in origin but remains unidentified. The discovery underscores how little of the deep seafloor — roughly 0.001% — has been visually explored and why ROVs are vital to deep-ocean science.
Mysterious Golden Orb Retrieved Two Miles Beneath Alaska Leaves Scientists Puzzled
A NOAA ROV recovered a soft, golden orb about 10 cm across from 3,300 meters beneath the Alaskan sea. Observers proposed it might be an egg casing, a dead sponge, or coral; one hole in the object suggests something entered or exited. The team collected the specimen by suction and confirmed it is biological in origin but remains unidentified. The discovery underscores how little of the deep seafloor — roughly 0.001% — has been visually explored and why ROVs are vital to deep-ocean science.
06:15 AM, 11/20/2025Science
During a 23-day 2023 expedition, a remotely operated vehicle operated by NOAA Ocean Exploration discovered a soft, golden orb clinging to a rock roughly 3,300 meters (about 2 miles) beneath the surface off Alaska. The object measured about 10 centimeters (4 inches) across and had a noticeable hole on one side; it was surrounded by white sponges and appeared tightly adhered to the substrate.
Description
The orb's smooth, fleshy texture and single opening prompted immediate curiosity. Observers on the live dive suggested several possibilities: an egg casing from an unknown species, a dead sponge, or a coral. The find was unusual not only for its appearance but also because it lay alone rather than in a clutch or group.
Reactions and Hypotheses
'I don't know what to make of that,' one researcher said during the livestream. 'It's definitely got a big old hole in it, so something either tried to get in or tried to get out,' another added. 'I just hope when we poke it, something doesn't decide to come out — it's like the beginning of a horror movie,' a third remarked.
Deep-sea ecologist Kerry Howell of the University of Plymouth described the texture as 'fleshy' and noted the object 'doesn't have any obvious anatomy.' Howell said the team is treating the object as an egg-like structure because of its texture and the apparent hole, but emphasized it 'doesn't look like any egg I've ever seen.' If it is an egg, its size would make it unusually large compared with typical fish eggs.
Collection and Preliminary Findings
Using a robotic arm the ROV gently nudged the orb and determined it was soft. The team then collected the specimen using suction to bring it aboard the ship for further study. Scientists confirmed the object appears biological in origin but, as of the latest updates, remains unclassified pending laboratory analysis.
Why This Matters
Discoveries like the golden orb highlight how little of the deep seafloor humans have seen: a 2025 analysis of publicly available dive footage estimated that only about 0.001% of the deep seafloor has been visually surveyed. Remote vehicles are gradually expanding our knowledge of Earth’s largest ecosystem and revealing surprising reproductive strategies and life forms adapted to crushing pressure and near-freezing temperatures.
'Isn't the deep sea so delightfully strange?' said Sam Candio, an exploration coordinator with NOAA Ocean Exploration. '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. It's a humbling reminder of how much remains to be discovered.'
The specimen is now being examined by specialists to determine its composition and origin. Whether it ultimately proves to be an egg, a sponge, a type of coral, or something entirely different, the orb will help scientists better understand life in the deep ocean.