NOAA scientists have identified a mysterious "golden orb" found during a 2023 Gulf of Alaska expedition as the anchoring portion of the deep‑sea anemone Relicanthus daphneae. The object was observed more than 2 miles (≈3.2 km) below the surface by the ROV Deep Discoverer and required years of morphological, genetic, and bioinformatics analysis to identify. The finding highlights how much of the deep ocean remains unexplored and the importance of interdisciplinary research in understanding ocean health.
NOAA Solves 'Golden Orb' Mystery: It's the Anchor of a Deep‑Sea Anemone
Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries
When a strange, reflective "golden orb" was spotted clinging to a rock more than 2 miles (≈3.2 km) beneath the Gulf of Alaska, it captured widespread curiosity. After years of analysis, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say the object is not an artifact but biological: the anchoring portion of a deep‑sea anemone.
The specimen was first recorded during a 2023 NOAA expedition using the remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer. The team documented the unusual structure while mapping and sampling deep habitats on the seafloor more than 2 miles below the surface.
Following extensive morphological, genetic, and bioinformatics work, researchers concluded the find is the remnant of the anemone Relicanthus daphneae — specifically the portion that anchors the animal to rocky substrate on the seafloor.
"We work on hundreds of different samples, and I suspected that our routine processes would clarify the mystery," said Allen Collins, director of NOAA Fisheries' National Systematics Laboratory. "But this turned into a special case that required focused efforts and the expertise of several different individuals. This was a complex mystery that required morphological, genetic, deep‑sea, and bioinformatics expertise to solve."
This discovery highlights how much of the deep ocean remains unexplored and how interdisciplinary science is required to identify unfamiliar life forms. Deep‑sea research informs efforts to monitor shifting marine ecosystems, discover new species, and assess ocean health.
"This is why we keep exploring — to unlock the secrets of the deep and better understand how the ocean and its resources can drive economic growth, strengthen our national security, and sustain our planet," said Capt. William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration.
The unusual find also drew strong public interest online, with readers expressing a mix of awe and humor: "I've been wondering about this for years!"; "Amazing that it was identified rather quickly!"; and a joking, "I still think it's an alien craft."
While the "golden orb" turned out to be biological rather than extraterrestrial, the episode underscores the continuing value of deep‑sea exploration — and the many surprises that still await in Earth's least explored environment.
Help us improve.
