The object was found over two miles (3.25 km) underwater in the Gulf of Alaska by a deep-sea expedition led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) using the remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer, according to multiple reports. It measured a little over four inches (10 cm) across.
The object was smooth, shiny, and soft with a large hole torn in the front, according to major media reports. It was collected using the ROV's suction tool and brought to the surface.
It is so satisfying to help crack the case of the egg. Even years after its collection, we were periodically receiving requests for updates to its identity. I really appreciate that we can bring attention to the small, weird things on our planet.
The sample was sent to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for analysis. Initial examination found the orb lacked typical animal anatomy but was fibrous with a layered surface packed with sting cells (spirocysts), characteristic of corals or anemones, according to major media reports.
DNA analysis initially was inconclusive because the orb had picked up DNA from other microscopic life, according to major media reports. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed the DNA was animal and genetically almost identical to a known Relicanthus daphneae reference genome, according to major media reports.
Something tried to get in... or to get out.
The golden base is usually hidden underneath the anemone, but this one was left behind after the anemone died or moved, according to multiple reports. "What happened to the top of the anemone? It could have died or moved to a new home. We might never know for sure," NOAA said in an official statement.
Dr. Allen Collins, a zoologist and director of NOAA Fisheries’ National Systematics Laboratory at the Smithsonian, said in an official statement: "We work on hundreds of different samples and I suspected that our routine processes would clarify the mystery. But this turned into a special case that required focused efforts and expertise of several different individuals. This was a complex mystery that required morphological, genetic, deep-sea and bioinformatics expertise to solve."
I just hope when we poke it, something doesn't decide to come out.
Captain William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration, said in an official statement: "So often in deep ocean exploration, we find these captivating mysteries, like the ‘golden orb’. With advanced techniques like DNA sequencing, we are able to solve more and more of them."
According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, Dr Steven Auscavitch, lead author of the new paper on the 'egg' at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, described it as satisfying to help crack the case of the egg, noting that even years after its collection, they were periodically receiving requests for updates to its identity. He said he appreciated that they could bring attention to the small, weird things on the planet.
What happened to the top of the anemone? It could have died or moved to a new home. We might never know for sure.
According to Daily Mail - Science & Tech, an unnamed researcher on the NOAA expedition described the object as something that something tried to get in or out. Another unnamed team member said they hoped when they poked it, something wouldn't decide to come out.
It remains unknown what happened to the top of the anemone—whether it died or moved to a new home—and why the golden base remained attached to the rock after the anemone was gone. The cause of the large hole torn in the front of the object is also unclear.
So often in deep ocean exploration, we find these captivating mysteries, like the ‘golden orb’. With advanced techniques like DNA sequencing, we are able to solve more and more of them.