Summary (tl;dr)

Scientists have finally identified a mysterious "golden orb" discovered on the Alaskan seafloor in 2023, revealing it to be the remnant base of a giant deep-sea anemone.

Essential Background

In August 2023, during an expedition in the Gulf of Alaska, researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) encountered a peculiar, shiny golden sphere attached to a rock over two miles beneath the ocean's surface. The object, which measured about four inches across and had a small hole, baffled scientists who initially speculated it could be an egg case, a dead sponge, or an unknown type of coral. The unusual find generated significant public interest and various theories, ranging from alien relics to sea monster remnants.

The Full Story

After nearly two and a half years of intensive study, involving morphological, genetic, and deep-sea expertise, scientists have now solved the mystery of the "golden orb." On April 22-24, 2026, NOAA announced that the object is a remnant of the dead cells that formed the base of a giant deep-sea anemone, identified as Relicanthus daphneae. The orb was collected by a remotely operated underwater vehicle and subsequently sent to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for examination. Researchers determined its identity by comparing its fibrous, stinging cells to a similar specimen collected in 2021 and through whole-genome sequencing, which confirmed its genetic similarity to Relicanthus daphneae. The golden portion is typically hidden beneath the anemone, which can grow to be quite large with tentacles stretching up to seven feet. The news of this scientific breakthrough has caused the keywords to trend as the public learns the solution to the deep-sea enigma.

Why It Matters

This discovery underscores the vast and unexplored nature of the deep ocean, highlighting that even in well-charted areas, significant biological mysteries remain. The successful identification, made possible through advanced scientific techniques like DNA sequencing, emphasizes the importance of ongoing deep-sea exploration and research. It contributes to our understanding of deep-sea biodiversity and the complex ecosystems that exist in extreme environments, while also captivating public curiosity about the natural world and scientific discovery.

Geographic Location

• Gulf of Alaska, United States (discovery of the golden orb 250 miles off the coast, at a depth of 3,250 meters)
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (where the golden orb was studied and identified)