Mysterious ‘blue goo’ at the bottom of the sea stumps scientists

A close-up of one of the mysterious — An in depth-up of one of many mysterious “blue goo” creatures found by researchers utilizing an ROV close to Saint Croix within the Caribbean. (Picture credit score: NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022)

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Unidentified deep-sea “blue goo” creatures just lately left scientists scratching their heads after they noticed the mysterious blobs hanging out on the seafloor within the Caribbean. Throughout a stay stream (opens in new tab) of the expedition, crew members mentioned what the gloopy globules could possibly be, however not one of the researchers may give you a definitive reply.

A number of blue goo creatures have been sighted Aug. 30 by scientists controlling a remotely operated car (ROV) close to the seafloor surrounding St. Croix, one of many U.S. Virgin Islands. The mysterious blobs have been found sitting immobile on the seafloor between 1,335 and a couple of,005 ft (407 and 611 meters) beneath the water’s floor.

Researchers piloted the ROV from onboard the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) analysis vessel Okeanos Explorer, which has spent the final 4 months investigating sections of the North Atlantic as a part of NOAA’s “Voyage to the Ridge 2022” exploration sequence. As with each different dive throughout these expeditions, the footage was stay streamed by NOAA for deep-sea lovers from all over the world to get pleasure from.

Through the stay stream, researchers noticed and zoomed in on one of many uncommon blue creatures and commenced discussing what it could possibly be. Some observers famous that it was more likely to both be a tender coral or sponge, and doubtlessly even a tunicate — gelatinous marine invertebrates which might be typically known as sea squirts. The crew prompt numerous potential nicknames, together with “bumpy blue factor,” “blue biomat” and “blue goo.”

Associated: 10 bizarre creatures discovered within the deep sea in 2021

The expedition members may solely agree on what the mysterious creature was not.

“I can let you know it isn’t a rock, however that is so far as I can go,” one researcher joked.

Different noteworthy sightings from the dive embody a greeneye fish (Chlorophthalmidae), a hatchetfish (Sternoptychidae), a beardfish (Polymixia), a glass sponge (Hexactinellida), bamboo coral (Isididae), a fossilized coral reef and a hardly ever noticed sea urchin orgy, in response to NOAA.

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A greeneye fish also seen on the dive. — A greeneye fish additionally seen on the dive. (Picture credit score: NOAA Ocean Exploration, Voyage to the Ridge 2022)

The crew will now start the prolonged technique of attempting to establish the puzzling blue goo.

Within the stay stream, the researchers mentioned they’d ship photographs and movies from the dive to coral and sponge consultants to see if they’ll establish the enigmatic blobs. That is no straightforward process, as there are round 2,000 species of soppy corals, in response to the World Register of Marine Species (opens in new tab); round 8,500 species of sponges, in response to NOAA (opens in new tab); and round 3,000 species of tunicates, in response to the Smithsonian Ocean Institute (opens in new tab).

If consultants are unable to establish the species then “the thriller will stay till a pattern might be collected,” the scientists mentioned.

The crew assume that this gooey thriller is the proper instance of what makes these expeditions so enjoyable and vital — for viewers and scientists alike.

“There’s all the time not less than one factor that stuns you,” one researcher mentioned.

Initially revealed on Dwell Science.

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