What was the mysterious golden orb found underwater?

The mysterious golden orb found thousands of feet underwater has been identified as the base of a giant sea anemone.

Where was the golden orb discovered?

The golden orb was discovered by researchers in the Gulf of Alaska.

What is special about the Relicanthus daphneae anemone?

The Relicanthus daphneae anemone is a giant sea anemone whose stinging spirocysts are the largest among all known cnidarians.

Home / Science / Deep Sea Mystery Solved: Golden Orb Identified!

Deep Sea Mystery Solved: Golden Orb Identified!

24 Apr

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Summary

A mysterious golden orb found miles underwater was identified.
Scientists determined it is the base of a giant sea anemone.
The anemone has stinging cells, the largest among cnidarians.

Deep Sea Mystery Solved: Golden Orb Identified!

A puzzling golden orb, discovered by researchers in the Gulf of Alaska in 2023, has finally been identified. Found more than two miles deep, the object's unique appearance intrigued scientists. Initially thought to be a simple identification task, the orb required specialized expertise across various scientific disciplines.

Morphological analysis revealed the orb was composed of fibrous material and possessed stinging cells, characteristic of cnidarians like anemones or corals. Further comparison with a specimen collected in 2021, followed by whole-genome sequencing, confirmed the orb was genetically nearly identical to Relicanthus daphneae, a type of sea anemone.