Four black eggs found 20,000 feet below sea, scientists were also stunned – creatures that were never seen before
A romantic discovery revealed the secrets of the deep sea
The secrets hidden in the depths of the sea surprise us again and again. Recently, scientists found something about 20,341 feet (about 6,200 meters) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean that blew their minds. Scientists from Tokyo University and Hokkaido University of Japan were exploring the abyssopelagic zone – the deepest area of the ocean – through a ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), when they saw four jet-black eggs stuck to a rock.
Never seen such eggs
The texture, color and depth of these eggs surprised the scientists. Marine researcher Yasunori Kano of the University of Tokyo immediately collected these eggs for investigation. Most of the eggs were broken, but four eggs were completely safe. Kano sent these eggs to invertebrate biologists at Hokkaido University, where Keiichi Kakui and his team studied them closely.
They were not eggs – they were flatworm cocoons!
When Kakui opened one of the eggs, a kind of milky white liquid came out of it. He blew the liquid with the help of a pipette and found that delicate white bodies were present inside it. At first glance it looked mysterious, but when a detailed analysis was done under the microscope, it was found that these were actually cocoons of organisms called Platyhelminth i.e. flatworms.
Kakui himself said, “I had never seen such flatworm cocoons before.”
Flatworm found at the deepest depth till date
The biggest thing about this discovery was that these flatworms have been found at such a depth for the first time. Earlier, the flatworm was found stuck to a piece of wood at a depth of 5,200 meters, but it is believed that it must have fallen with the wood and it was not clear whether it was a permanent organism there or not.
The DNA test also made it clear that these flatworms belong to a new and never seen before species. However, it is interesting that their DNA is not very different from those flatworms that are found in shallow water. That is, their body and biology are not much different, but the living place is extremely unique and challenging.
The ocean is still an unsolved mystery
This discovery proves that our ocean still remains the biggest unsolved mystery. The largest part of the water on Earth is in the ocean, but we still do not know how many unique and unseen species are hidden in these depths.
Such a discovery at a depth of 20,000 feet is being considered a major achievement for science. These cocoons show how life can flourish even in extreme conditions. There is neither sunlight nor much oxygen – yet these organisms exist there.
Are there more hidden mysteries?
This discovery has forced scientists to think that if simple organisms like flatworms can exist at such depths, can more complex life forms also exist there? Will we find evidence of organisms that are completely new and beyond our science of today?
Conclusion
This discovery of four black eggs not only surprised scientists, but also showed a new direction in ocean science. Scientists from Tokyo and Hokkaido University have shown that there is still a lot hidden in the most mysterious part of our earth – the depths of the ocean.