NOAA Identifies Mysterious Golden Orb as Deep-Sea Anemone Base
NOAA scientists have identified a mysterious golden orb found in the Gulf of Alaska in 2023 as the base of a giant deep-sea anemone.
In 2023, during a deep-sea expedition in the Gulf of Alaska, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered a mysterious golden orb more than two miles underwater. After extensive analysis, NOAA officials have identified the object as the base of a giant deep-sea anemone, Relicanthus daphneae.
The orb, approximately 4 inches in diameter, was found attached to a rock west of Prince of Wales Island as part of NOAA's Seascape Alaska program, an ongoing research initiative that began in 2021 to map unexplored U.S. waters off Alaska.
Initial speculation about the orb's identity ranged from an egg case to a dead marine sponge. The identification process involved collaboration between NOAA Fisheries and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Allen Collins, director of NOAA Fisheries' National Systematics Laboratory, stated, "This turned into a special case that required focused efforts and expertise of several different individuals."
The Seascape Alaska program continues to explore and map the region, aiming to enhance understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and inform ocean territorial claims.