Mysterious Golden Orb at the Bottom of the Ocean Finally Identified

Scientists identified a mysterious golden orb from the Gulf of Alaska as shed outer tissue from the deep-sea sea anemone Relicanthus daphneae.

The object, found at about 3,250 meters depth by NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer and ROV Deep Discoverer, was not an egg case or unknown species.

After three years of analysis, including genetic sequencing, researchers solved a long-running deep-sea mystery.

The discovery highlights how advanced submersibles and genome tools can reveal unusual life forms and tissues in extreme environments.