ROV Dives – Octopus Odyssey

More about the research HERE. Dive 529 - Dorado Outcrop Dive 529 Part 2 - Dorado Outcrop Dive 530 - Dorado Outcrop Dive 530 Part 2 -Dorado Outcrop Dive 516 - Continuing our Coral Search at Whiting Bank Date: April 27, 2023 Location: Whiting Bank, Atlantic Ocean off Puerto Rico Estimated Maximum Depth: 1180 meters … Continued

Todo está Conectado

Perspectivas sobre la conectividad del área de estudio, a nivel regional, entre la columna de agua y el fondo marino, implicaciones para la gestión e investigación. English Translation Below “Todo está conectado”…. Una frase muy trillada que aplica de manera perfecta para lo que sucede en el océano, un medio que obedece las leyes de … Continued

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

Returning to the Dorado Outcrop

Traducción al español a continuación The Octopus Odyssey expedition has begun! Our goal is to return to the place where deep-sea octopus were first discovered brooding their eggs in low-temperature hydrothermal fluids venting from a tiny outcrop of rock offshore Costa Rica, at a depth of over 3,000 meters (almost 10,000 feet). In 2013, a … Continued

Dynamics of Sinking Microplastics

Expedition dates: August 2 - August 7, 2023 Plastic pollution is pervasive in our Ocean. The most prevalent component of plastic pollution isn’t large pieces of trash floating on the surface, but tiny bits of waste called “microplastics” that are found throughout the water column. Ranging from 5 mm in diameter (a pencil eraser) down … Continued

Scientists Use New Technology to Examine Health of Deep-Sea Corals, Find Suspected New Species

Multidisciplinary team of scientists utilizes new technology, SOLARIS, to determine health of Puerto Rican deep-sea corals Video and photos available here. CONTACT: Carlie Wiener (808) 628-8666 cwiener@schmidtocean.org SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Scientists aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) have returned from an expedition to study the impact of climate change on deep water … Continued

Engineering Ocean Sensors

Traducción al español disponible a continuación Consider our human sensors, the eyes. Take a look around you, the intensity, color and depth of the features they capture help us better understand the world and our place in it. Despite this perceived acuity, however, our eyes are quite limited in many ways in their ability to … Continued

The Importance of Reactive Oxygen Species

A Haiku Searching the deep-sea For pulses of ROS Fleeting signs of health Traducción al español disponible a continuación Why do we care about ROS? Aerobic organisms may produce ROS for a variety of beneficial functions, including cell growth, signaling, and pathogen defense. However, if the ability of an organism to regulate the production and … Continued

Port of Seattle Celebrate Deep Sea with Art and Science

Schmidt Ocean Institute was featured at the closing event with new footage of three new hydrothermal vent fields and deep-sea-inspired art. CONTACTS: Carlie Wiener • (808) 628-8666 • cwiener@schmidtocean.org Peter McGraw • (206) 787-3446 • mcgraw.p@portseattle.org Seattle, Washington – The Port of Seattle and Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) hosted an event this week announcing the … Continued