SouthernWorldwide.com – Scientists have finally identified a mysterious “golden orb” that was discovered in the deep sea off the coast of Alaska in 2023.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) announced on Wednesday that the enigmatic object, found thousands of feet below the surface, has been confirmed as the base of a giant sea anemone.
The orb was initially spotted by a remotely operated underwater vehicle in the Gulf of Alaska. At a depth of over two miles, the vehicle encountered a “strange, golden, mound-shaped object with a hole in it, stuck to a rock,” according to NOAA. This unusual find was then collected and sent to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for detailed examination.
Allen Collins, director of NOAA Fisheries’ National Systematics Laboratory and a zoologist, initially expected that standard scientific processes would quickly reveal the orb’s identity. However, the object presented a significant challenge.
“This turned into a special case that required focused efforts and expertise of several different individuals,” Collins stated. “This was a complex mystery that required morphological, genetic, deep-sea and bioinformatics expertise to solve.”
The initial investigation focused on the physical characteristics of the orb. Researchers determined that it did not possess typical animal anatomy. Instead, it was composed of “fibrous material” and was covered in stinging cells, a feature common in organisms like anemones or corals.
These stinging cells were identified as spirocysts, specialized cellular structures used for capturing prey. The presence of such cells is exclusive to a specific group of aquatic invertebrates known as cnidarians.
The research team noted similarities between these cells and those observed in a specimen collected in 2021. A comparison between the golden orb and this earlier specimen revealed that they belonged to the same species.
While initial DNA testing on both the golden orb and the 2021 specimen yielded inconclusive results, subsequent whole-genome sequencing provided a breakthrough. The analysis showed that both samples were “genetically almost identical” to a type of cnidarian called Relicanthus daphneae.
Further analysis confirmed that the golden orb was once a part of the base of a giant sea anemone, as explained by NOAA in a video detailing the identification process.
This specific golden object is typically concealed beneath the anemone. NOAA suggests that this particular specimen “seems to have been left behind,” though the exact circumstances of the anemone’s top part remaining unknown. The agency theorizes that it may have either died or relocated to a different habitat.
The complete anemone is described as having a pink, cylindrical body that can reach up to three feet in diameter. Its tentacles can extend as long as six feet. Notably, its spirocysts are the largest among all known cnidarians.
“So often in deep ocean exploration, we find these captivating mysteries, like the ‘golden orb,'” said William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration. “With advanced techniques like DNA sequencing, we are able to solve more and more of them.”
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Mowitt emphasized the importance of continued exploration. “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.”
