Mysterious golden orb found deep in Alaska's Pacific waters

Orb or Egg?

The orb, described as having a "skin-like" texture by NOAA scientists, was delicately probed by a remotely operated arm and then suctioned up a tube for further analysis in a laboratory setting. While initial images captured from the ocean floor showed the orb in a golden hue, experts clarified that the coloration was likely the result of reflections from the submarine's headlights. Subsequent photographs taken in the lab suggest a more brown-yellow color.

The Seascape Alaska 5 mission aims to explore the depths of the Gulf of Alaska up to four miles down, covering an array of marine habitats, including deep-sea coral, sponges, and intriguing geological formations such as mud volcanoes. During the livestream on August 30, when the discovery occurred, team members speculated on what the object could be—an egg casing or possibly a sponge. The enigmatic hole at its center further fueled speculations, as somebody suggested that a hatching creature or a predator might have created it.

In a candid moment during the livestream, one scientist humorously quipped, "I just hope when we poke it, something doesn't decide to come out. It's like the beginning of a horror movie."

Sam Candio, the expedition coordinator for NOAA Ocean Exploration's ongoing Seascape Alaska 5 mission, expressed a sense of wonder about the deep sea's mysteries. Candio mentioned that while the team was able to collect the puzzling 'golden orb' and bring it on board, its identity remains elusive, confirmed only to be of biological origin. He noted that further insights will likely come once the specimen reaches a lab where more advanced tools are available. Candio also emphasized that the mysterious finding serves as a reminder of humanity's limited knowledge about Earth's oceans, highlighting how much there is still to learn and appreciate.

As it stands, DNA testing should provide a clue as to the broader family of marine life to which this mysterious orb belongs. However, pinning down a specific species might be a tall order, given that only a fraction of marine life has been genetically sequenced.