We are constantly learning new things about marine creatures and this jellyfish is a great example. Discovered by MBARI in the Pacific Ocean, this jellyfish can grow up to 1m in diameter and grabs its prey with “arms” instead of stinging tentacles.
An AUV Lost in Antarctica
Almost any ROV technician will have a story of a near miss, an entanglement or a lost vehicle. About 6 months ago, Ran, an autonomous underwater vehicle, was lost while exploring under Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica (a.k.a Doomsday Glacier).
Not long before Ran got lost, it had been able to return some amazing maps of the underside of a glacier, giving scientists new insights into the interactions between the ice, fractures within it and water flowing beneath it.
Full article at: The U.S. Sun 02feb24 and Marine Technology News 02aug24
ROV SuBastian Discovers New Octopus
A new deep sea octopus species was discovered by Schmidt Ocean Institute off the coast of Costa Rica by using an ROV to explore seamounts (underwater mountains) at depths of ~3100m (almost 2 miles)
Full article at: Nature World News 18jan2024
ROVs find Hydrothermal Vents in the Red Sea
In 2022 & 2023, KAUST scientists used ROVs to confirm data collected since 2011 proving that hydrothermal vents exist in the Red Sea!
The research used multiple research vessels and deep-ocean research equipment thanks to a collaboration with scientists at GEOMAR Helmholtz and staff from KAUST and HCMR (the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research).
Full article at: Astrobiology 11jan24
How Do We Build Things Underwater?
New Hampshire Public Radio did a quick interview with pile driver Justin Alves to answer the question “How Do We Build Things Underwater”.
Spoiler alert: Answer is cofferdams and ROVs!
Link to interview at: NHPR 08dec23