What lies beneath the waves remains one of the planet’s greatest mysteries, as about half of Earth’s surface remains unknown and unexplored. This is because humans have only mapped a quarter of the seafloor, which covers around 70% of the planet, to a high resolution. Technology such as sonar and remotely operated vehicles have explored these dark ocean depths, uncovering unknown species and geological features.
Two dinosaur tracks from the Koum Basin in Cameroon were made 120 million years ago. Southern Methodist University
An exciting recent discovery brings oceanographers closer to their goal of having a definitive map of the seabed by 2030. A newly discovered seamount off the coast of Chile stands at 3,109 meters tall and is home to rare ocean creatures like the so-called "spaghetti monster." These unique ecosystems are being considered as potential high seas marine protected areas under a newly adopted United Nations treaty.
Beyond Earth’s mysteries, recent astronomical discoveries have revealed rogue planets larger than Jupiter that don’t orbit any stars, and paleontologists have even uncovered a prehistoric sea cow’s violent demise, providing insights into Earth’s ancient predators.
