Fluid Flow through the Crust

Traducción al español a continuación In addition to the biologists studying octopus, the science party on the Falkor (too) includes a geophysicist (me) and a hydrogeologist (Dr. Rachel Lauer).  Our role is to study what is happening beneath the seafloor to understand better the “plumbing” that moves fluids into and out of the ocean crust, … Continued

Odyssey Origins – Week 1 Video Update

The Octopus Odyssey expedition is currently underway in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Costa Rica, with the objective of investigating underwater mountains that scientists believe harbor distinctive habitats and biodiversity. The multidisciplinary science team aims to gain a deeper understanding of the hydrogeology, microbiology, ecology, and geochemistry that potentially contribute to the captivating … Continued

ROV Dives – Health Diagnostics of Deep-Sea Coral

More about the research HERE. Dive 503 - Diving to Desecheo Ridge Date: April 18, 2023 Location: Desecheo Ridge, Atlantic Ocean off Puerto Rico Estimated Maximum Depth: 800 meters Work Completed: Explored the lower ridge benthic cover while transiting up the Desecheo Ridge. Focused on measurements and collections at ca. 150-200 m. Dive 504 - … Continued

4K Highlights ~ Video Update

It sounds like something out of a fairytale: scenes of fantastical creatures - some floating, others firmly entwined within towering mineral chimneys that billow underwater "smoke." These are the very real ecosystems around the hydrothermal vents we were lucky enough to explore during Schmidt Ocean Institute's latest expedition. ROV SuBastian documented wonders including astounding geological … Continued

Ocean Worlds Beyond Earth

One of my favorite memories of sailing with Schmidt Ocean Institute was in 2016 when we were using the ROV SuBastian to explore volcanoes of the Mariana Arc and Backarc in the western Pacific. We live-streamed seafloor video from this amazing sulfur-rich underwater volcano called Daikoku back to shore, and we kept getting the question … Continued

Beautiful Unknowns ~ Video Update Week 3

Finding what you aren't looking for isn't always a bad thing! So far, the team has not found find more vents like the Lost City hydrothermal field, but they have discovered large high-temperature, black-smoker hydrothermal systems. These fields are massive and have bustling ecosystems, raising many questions that need answers. There is currently an international … Continued

Nace la curiosidad ~ Science Stories

“Aunque vengo de una isla, Puerto Rico, nunca antes había estado en un barco”. El microbiólogo Marc Fontánez Ortiz explica cómo su camino hacia las ciencias oceánicas no fue tan directo o simple como muchos podrían suponer. Eche un vistazo a su “Historia de Ciencia”, en donde él describe las experiencias que lo trajeron hasta … Continued

ROV Dives – In Search of Hydrothermal Lost Cities

On its inaugural expedition, Falkor (too) will head to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with Chief Scientist Dr. David Butterfield from the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory – University of Washington, and his team to search for hydrothermal lost cities. In 2000, scientists found a hydrothermal vent system on the Atlantis Massif unlike any seen before. Ghostly towers made … Continued