Summary (tl;dr)

Scientists have identified a mysterious "golden orb" discovered in the deep sea off Alaska in 2023 as the remnant of a giant deep-sea anemone, solving a two-and-a-half-year scientific puzzle.

Essential Background

In August 2023, during NOAA's Seascape Alaska 5 expedition, a remotely operated vehicle exploring the seafloor in the Gulf of Alaska at depths exceeding two miles encountered a peculiar golden, dome-shaped object with a hole in its surface. The unusual find sparked significant curiosity and speculation among scientists and the public, with initial theories ranging from an unknown egg casing to a marine sponge or even more imaginative suggestions.

The Full Story

After two and a half years of extensive analysis, scientists from NOAA Fisheries and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History have finally identified the enigmatic "golden orb." Researchers determined the object is the remnant of the attachment point, or base, of a giant deep-sea anemone known as Relicanthus daphneae. The identification process involved examining its fibrous physical structure, which contained stinging cells called spirocysts—characteristic of cnidarians like anemones—and conducting advanced whole-genome DNA sequencing to confirm its genetic match to the Relicanthus daphneae species. NOAA released the findings on April 22, 2026, officially solving the deep-sea mystery.

Why It Matters

The identification of the "golden orb" highlights the vast number of unknown species and mysteries that continue to exist in the Earth's deep oceans. It underscores the critical importance of deep-sea exploration and advanced scientific techniques, such as DNA sequencing, in expanding our understanding of marine biodiversity and resolving perplexing biological puzzles that captivate public interest.

Geographic Location

• Gulf of Alaska, United States (discovery of the golden orb by NOAA expedition)
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (analysis and identification of the golden orb)