According to a recent study published in Science Advances, researchers discovered that humans have visually documented only about 1,470 square miles—or a tiny 0.001% of the deep seafloor. This area, slightly larger than Rhode Island, sparks interest as nations consider industrial seabed mining for essential minerals. Marine biologist Katy Croff Bell, who led the study and founded the Ocean Discovery League, emphasizes the necessity of further exploration before engaging in extractive activities. "More information is always beneficial," she states, highlighting the significance of informed decision-making regarding the deep sea.
The research underscores the excitement surrounding exploration, as Dr. Bell notes, "You can just imagine what’s in the rest of the 99.999 percent." The study began with visual documentation efforts of deep-sea submersibles like Trieste in 1958 and Alvin in 1960, which have been crucial in identifying new organisms and understanding their interactions within oceanic ecosystems. This knowledge is vital not only for resource management but also for grasping the impacts of climate change and human activities on ocean health.
