A strange object known as the "golden orb" puzzled scientists and captured public attention after it was collected during a 2023 NOAA expedition. More than two years later, researchers have finally identified what it is.
The unusual golden mass, discovered at a depth of 3,250 meters (over 2 miles) in the Gulf of Alaska, turned out to be the remains of dead tissue from a giant deep-sea anemone called Relicanthus daphneae. Specifically, it was part of the anemone's base, which anchors the animal to rocky surfaces on the seafloor.
During NOAA Ocean Exploration missions aboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, encountering unfamiliar organisms is not unusual. In many cases, scientists can quickly identify these finds by sharing knowledge and collaborating. However, some discoveries resist easy answers, and the "golden orb" became one of those rare, lingering mysteries.
[See link to video below article.]
Discovery in the Gulf of Alaska
