ROV Dives – Designing the Future 2

The ocean’s midwater is considered to be the largest habitable space for life on earth, yet it is also one of the most minimally explored marine environments. Collecting specimens in this region is incredibly challenging, as many open ocean species are quick, fragile, and small. Keeping a midwater animal alive for study at the surface … Continued

Biodiverse Borderlands – 4K Highlights – Video Update

“Establishing ecological baselines in the deep sea allows us to track changes over time and better understand the consequences of human actions,” said Chief Scientist Dr. Lisa Levin, a professor of biological oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Check out some of the magnificent sights documented by ROV SuBastian during this expedition.  The goal … Continued

Baseline Exploration – Video Update

“Our goal is to learn about the different types of animal and microbial communities that occur off Southern California. We’re actually in exploration mode: many of these areas have not been visited or studied before. Some of them have not even been mapped accurately.” Take a behind-the-scenes look into the #BiodiverseSCB expedition in this video.

ROV Dives – Biodiverse Borderlands

The deep sea hosts minerals that contain high quantities of elements that are valuable for human societies. Countries around the world are preparing to develop extractive practices for deep-sea minerals, and baseline biological data are needed to further assess the life that may dwell on or around minerals in different benthic environments. To examine the trade-offs … Continued

Illuminating Coral Environments from Shallow to Deep

When you hear the word ‘coral’ or the phrase ‘coral reefs,’ what image comes to mind? For most people, it is a light-soaked shallow-water coral reef teeming with life. This is a scene that many of us have become familiar with, either through a first-hand experience of scuba diving or snorkeling in tropical waters or … Continued

Biodiverse Borderlands

Mineral-Rich Habitats of Southern California The deep sea hosts minerals that contain high quantities of elements that are valuable for human societies. Countries around the world are preparing to develop extractive practices for deep-sea minerals, and baseline biological data are needed to further assess the life that may dwell on or around minerals in different … Continued

Falkor (too) FAQ

SHIP FAQ 1. Why is the vessel named Falkor (too)? To continue on the theme of the German fantasy novel, The Neverending Story, which served as the inspiration for our first research vessel, this research vessel is named Falkor (too), as it will continue the never-ending journey of the Schmidt Ocean Institute in its mission … Continued

WaterWords of the Day: Authigenic

The WaterWord: Authigenic Definition: Although some people are born with a wanderlust, wanting to travel all over, some seem to be ready made homebodies. And rocks that are authigenic are the homebodies of geology. Authigenic means that rock formed where it is currently located. That’s in contrast to rocks that form from materials that were … Continued

WaterWords of the Day: Methanogenesis

The WaterWord: Methanogenesis Definition: Anytime you see the word “genesis,” you’re looking at the beginning of something, and methanogenesis is no exception. It refers to the creation of methane by a specific set of microbes (microscopic organisms) that produce methane as a byproduct of digesting their food. Etymology: Methane comes from the French word methylene, itself made … Continued

WaterWord of the Day: Methane Seep

The WaterWord: Methane Seep Definition: Ever see a movie set at the bottom of the sea, and notice occasional streams of bubbles coming up from the seafloor? That’s what a methane seep is: A point where methane (a gas) escapes from the rock into the ocean above it. It is one of several types of … Continued