Video and photos available here.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, October 7, 2026— In the tropical Atlantic Ocean, scientists onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) have completed the most comprehensive survey in over two decades on an ocean physics phenomenon called salt finger mixing – which plays a critical role in ocean mixing but is extremely difficult to study, leaving a gap in understanding how our Ocean is changing.

Salt finger mixing occurs when warm, salty surface water sits atop cool, less salty water. The driving forces behind this phenomenon are diffusion and density. Heat makes water less dense, and salt makes it denser. Because heat diffuses through water 100 times faster than salt, the mixing waters form tiny alternating “fingers” of sinking and rising fluid. 

Salt finger mixing is especially prominent in the tropical Atlantic because warm surface waters collide with cooler waters carried by deep-ocean currents. The scientists suspect this mixing carries critical nutrients to the surface, feeding phytoplankton in an otherwise nutrient-poor ecosystem.

“Measuring fine-scale ocean mixing is like measuring a whisper,” said Dr. Joseph Gradone, an assistant research professor at Rutgers University and co-chief scientist for the expedition. “The fine-scale ocean mixing we are interested in is as difficult to measure, but if we can capture just how many whispers there are, we might learn how truly widespread it is.”

A better understanding of salt finger mixing is important for improving climate models. Scientists hypothesize that climate change may increase the rate of salt finger mixing by sharpening the contrast in water temperature and salinity between tropical surface waters and the deeper polar waters that flow into the Atlantic. 

Early-career researchers, including the two co-chief scientists, Gradone and Dr. Corday Selden from Rutgers University, comprised most of the team. To study the phenomenon, they used an array of underwater technologies, including a nitrate sensor, a Niskin bottle rosette for water sampling, robotic gliders, and a vertical microstructure profiler. The vertical microstructure profiler, a device for measuring subtle changes in turbulence and other physical properties of the water, can reach depths of 5500 meters and quantify fine-scale ocean mixing. They also examined nitrogen consumption and carbon fixation, which are vital components of phytoplankton growth.

“Over the coming year, our team will process the data collected during the expedition to gain insights into the relationship between salt finger mixing and plankton,” said Selden, an assistant professor at Rutgers University. “We will assess plankton growth, diversity, and grazing rates against physical measurements of salt finger mixing to determine how the process feeds surface ecosystems. These findings will clarify how fine-scale ocean mixing drives both marine food webs and potential carbon export to the deep sea.” 

The ocean absorbs approximately 30% of all human-created carbon emissions. Much of the absorbed carbon dioxide is captured by phytoplankton during photosynthesis and converted into organic carbon. When these phytoplankton are consumed or die, their remains slowly sink towards the seafloor, exporting carbon to deeper parts of the ocean, and preventing it from returning to the atmosphere for thousands of years. If salt finger mixing contributes to phytoplankton growth, the amount of carbon sinking could change.

“All of the conditions necessary for life in the Ocean are governed by physics,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani, “Expeditions like this address a major gap in our knowledge of ocean physics, gathering hard-to-measure data that are critical for understanding ocean mixing, which in turn improves computer models of larger ocean phenomena such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.” 

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About the Organizations

Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the state of New Jersey’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Established in 1766, the university is the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the United States. More than 71,000 students and 27,000 faculty and staff learn, work, and serve the public at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Rutgers University-Newark, Rutgers University-Camden and Rutgers Health. 

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Media Assets & Press Kit

• Scientists from Ocean Census Network identified 57 new species and 5 new genera in just two weeks.
• Specimens from the August 2025 Schmidt Ocean Institute deep-sea expedition in Argentina’s Mar del Plata Canyon that live-streamed a starfish to global fame. 
• New species include “Loki the Sea Cucumber” (Peniagone sp.), a remarkable abundance of deep-sea copepods, and 5 new scientific genera spanning corals, sea cucumbers, and crustaceans.
• Hosted by the Universidad Maimónides in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute, CONICET, and the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales.

BUENOS AIRES (September, 2026) – An international Species Discovery Workshop, led by the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census in partnership with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, has resulted in the identification of 57 new marine species and 5 genera, shedding new light on one of the most biologically dynamic regions in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The workshop brought together 20 taxonomists and early-career researchers from across Latin America and Europe to examine deep-sea biological samples, primarily from the Schmidt Ocean Institute Underwater Oasis of the Mar del Plata Canyon expedition in August 2025 onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too), using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian. Hosted at the Universidad Maimónides in Buenos Aires from 13–24 July 2026, the team utilised integrated taxonomy techniques to rapidly identify specimens, logging discoveries directly onto Ocean Census NOVA, the world’s first open-access data platform for newly discovered marine species.

Among the key findings was “Loki the Sea Cucumber” (Peniagone sp.), a striking deep-sea echinoderm named for its horned appendages, resembling the god of Norse legend. In total, the team identified 20 new species of copepods, 22 echinoderms (sea cucumbers and crinoids), 14 cnidarians (octocorals, sea pens, and stony corals), and 1 scaphopod mollusc, with 5 new scientific genera spanning corals, sea cucumbers, and crustaceans. 

“International cooperation in taxonomy is critical, especially in groups with few active specialists. The species discovery workshop accelerated species identification, the recognition of species new to science, and increased capacity building for local early-career taxonomists working on deep-sea fauna.”  Dr. Daniel Lauretta, Principal Investigator, CONICET, and the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales

Species Spotlights & Workshop Highlights

• “Loki the Sea Cucumber” (Peniagone sp.)
  Location: Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon | Depth: 2577 metres
  Taxonomist: Francisco Alonso Solís-Marín & Mariano Martinez 
  This holothurian (sea cucumber) was one of the standout new species identified during the workshop. Featuring remarkable in-situ images and video captured on the seafloor, “Loki” represents one of up to 10 new holothurian species uncovered during the workshop. 
• The copepod collection (Copepoda, Harpacticoida)
  Location: Argentina Deep Basin / Mar del Plata Canyon
  Of these tiny and vital crustaceans, taxonomists examined just 10% of the collected samples during the workshop. Yet, remarkably, every specimen examined was a species new to science, yielding 20 new species and 1 new genus.
• Deep-sea corals & sea pens (Octocorallia, Pennatuloidea, Scleractinia)
  Location: Mar del Plata Submarine Canyon
  The workshop identified 14 new species of corals, including two potential new genera and a potential new family (awaiting genetic analysis). Highlights include the sea pen Pseudumbellula sp. and the vivid orange-red octocoral Orstomisis sp., providing crucial data on habitat-forming deep-sea ecosystems.

One Year On: Building on the Schmidt Ocean Institute Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon Expedition

The workshop marks the one-year anniversary of the Schmidt Ocean Institute Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon expedition (July–August 2025), led by Principal Investigator Dr. Daniel Lauretta aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too).

Explorations focused on the Brazil–Malvinas Confluence, where warm subtropical currents collide with cold, nutrient-rich sub-Antarctic waters to create an oceanographic crossroad of immense biological productivity. Operating in a submarine canyon nearly twice as deep as the Grand Canyon (exceeding 3,500 metres), the team used ROV SuBastian to broadcast live video feeds directly to the public.

Over 4 million viewers tuned in live to witness sprawling deep-sea coral reefs, fields of mushroom coral at 1,500 metres depth, including observing a bright orange seastar that captured global imagination for its resemblance to the cartoon character “Patrick Star”. Despite gaining global fame during and after the expedition, “Patrick Star” was not thought to be a new species, and was left undisturbed and unaware of its notoriety.

“Discovering 57 new species and five new genera in just two weeks demonstrates the speed and power of collaborative taxonomy. The deep sea holds some of the least understood ecosystems on Earth. By bringing Latin America’s scientific expertise and international experts together with, as well as connecting them to the open-access Ocean Census NOVA platform, we are drastically accelerating our understanding of marine biodiversity.” Dr Michelle Taylor, Ocean Census Head of Science.

Regional Significance for Argentina & Looking Ahead to 2027

Beyond immediate species counts, the workshop represented a major investment in Argentine scientific capacity and regional biodiversity research. Physical specimens processed during the workshop, as well as historical samples from CONICET’s Talud Continental I–III expeditions, a series of deep-sea scientific expeditions conducted in 2012 and 2013 to explore the marine biodiversity off the coast of Buenos Aires Province, will be permanently housed in national institutional collections, including the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia” (MACN) in Buenos Aires.

The initiative provided hands-on training for Early Career Researchers and students, allowing knowledge exchange  between local and international taxonomic experts.

“The Mar del Plata Canyon expedition captured the public’s imagination when we first live-streamed Argentina’s deep-sea, discovering potential new marine species,” said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director. “These results show the power when world-class technology and expertise meets international scientific collaboration. By identifying new species, these scientists have advanced our understanding of South Atlantic marine life and, via Ocean Census, ensured that this data is accessible globally.”

The discovery journey in the South Atlantic is far from over. Building on this success, Principal Investigator Dr. Daniel Lauretta and team are planning a follow-up expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute in February–March 2027 to a different submarine canyon with anticipated high endemism. New samples of marine invertebrates collected during the upcoming expedition will potentially yield more new species and genera, necessitating further collaborative species discovery efforts, such as the recent Species Discovery Workshop.

About the Organisations

The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census
The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census is the world’s largest initiative dedicated to accelerating the discovery of ocean life. Although the ocean covers over 70% of the planet, it remains one of Earth’s least explored ecosystems, with only about 240,000 marine species formally documented—while millions more are thought to remain undiscovered.

Launched in April 2023 by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, Ocean Census is a global mission designed to close this knowledge gap. Through major expeditions, advanced technologies and a worldwide scientific network, the programme is transforming how quickly we can document and understand marine life. Ocean Census is endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade and supported by partners across science, media, philanthropy, business and civil society.
www.oceancensus.org

Schmidt Ocean Institute
Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyse the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence.
www.schmidtocean.org

CONICET & MACN
The National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) is the primary agency promoting science and technology in Argentina. The Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia” (MACN) belongs to CONICET and is one of Argentina’s premier natural history institutions, housing critical biological collections.
www.conicet.gov.ar
https://www.macnconicet.gob.ar/

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Marine Technology Society and Society for Underwater Technology Announce Dr. Jyotika Virmani as the Recipient of the 2026 Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration

WASHINGTON, DC – The Marine Technology Society (MTS) and the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) are pleased to announce Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of Schmidt Ocean Institute, as the recipient of the 2026 Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration. Conferred jointly by MTS and SUT, this prestigious award recognizes exceptional and sustained international contributions to the development, application, and dissemination of marine technology in support of advancing ocean exploration.

Mike Fearn, Chair of SUT, added “It is with great pleasure that the judging panel of MTS & SUT awarded Dr Jyotika Virmani the Captain Don Walsh award through their work with Schmidt Ocean Institute, XPRIZE Foundation, Florida Institute of Oceanography which aligned with the values of the award and vision for the future of ocean exploration and raising awareness of critical environmental ocean issues and technology.”

For information, please contact:

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Images and videos available in this gallery.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — Marine scientists from Trinidad and Tobago recently conducted the first locally led and most comprehensive deep-sea survey of the islands’ surrounding ocean during an expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too). During the month-long expedition in July, the team located over 25 active cold seeps, discovered 20 suspected new species, and mapped approximately 13% of the country’s marine territory.

The potential new species include an octopus first discovered during a 2014 expedition, in which the expedition’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Diva Amon, participated. The scientists did not have the required data to confirm whether it was a new species in 2014, but will be able to confirm this with the data collected on the latest expedition. They also discovered corals, carnivorous sponges, and squat lobsters, among other animals. Over 700 specimens were collected, all of which will be housed at the Zoology Museum at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, in Trinidad and Tobago — increasing the size of the museum’s deep-sea collection twelve-fold.

“As the first locally led deep-sea expedition in Trinidad and Tobago’s history, these discoveries are proof that Caribbean scientists can uncover our own deep-sea backyard,” said Amon, who also serves as co-director of the non-profit SpeSeas. “Every new discovery we make, whether ecosystem, species or behavior, deepens our understanding of what’s at stake and strengthens our ability to be true stewards of this largely unseen but critical part of our country.”

Over 11,335 square kilometers of Trinidad and Tobago’s uncharted seafloor was mapped. The scientists used this data to locate 219 bubble streams, indicators of possible cold-seep sites. Powered by chemical energy such as methane bubbling from the ocean floor, cold seep ecosystems support marine life—including mussels, clams, and tubeworms—through chemosynthetic bacteria rather than sunlight. The team used the bubble streams to visually confirm 25 cold seep ecosystems with Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV), SuBastian. The largest cold seep is half an acre, less than one-third the size of a World Cup football field, and covered in mussels and tubeworms. All the data collected, from mapping to biological data, will contribute to future marine governance and spatial planning efforts within Trinidad and Tobago, including the establishment of marine protected areas, said Amon.

The team also tested a novel cryoprotectant for preserving living animal tissues. The cryoprotectant freezes tissue without damaging it, as is common with other deep-freezing methods like liquid nitrogen, ensuring that collected specimens retain their biological integrity for future research.

“Being part of this expedition was an incredible opportunity to help create the first ‘frozen zoo’ in the Caribbean,” said Dr. Megan Conkling, a research scientist from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University. “By cryopreserving tissues from more than 86 species of deep-water sponges, corals, and sea cucumbers, we’re preserving living biological resources that provide an invaluable baseline for understanding future ecosystem change.”

Other encounters on this expedition included a rare manta ray fall – a Mobula carcass resting on the seafloor – providing food for deep-sea animals such as crabs and worms. They also collected high-quality footage of a black swallower fish with a distended stomach, a natural phenomenon that occurs after the fish eats meals much larger than itself. At least 54 species that had never been observed before in the country’s waters, including ghost sharks and zombie worms, were seen. Amongst all of the deep-sea discoveries was evidence of human-made trash, a reminder that places where humans have never been still bear our impacts, said Amon.

The scientists also engaged with the public before and during the expedition to raise awareness of the deep sea among local and Caribbean residents. They engaged over 2,000 people via Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Ship-to-Shore program, from young students to non-profit organizations, universities, and government officials, and over 1,000 people through in-person visits to schools and universities before the expedition.

“The new cryoprotectant technique is a notable step forward for studies involving species preservation and will eventually democratize tissue sample preservation at sea,” said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of Schmidt Ocean Institute. “Pairing these cutting-edge capabilities with local scientific expertise ensures that Caribbean researchers not only uncover the wonders in their own marine regions, but also lead the way in next-generation ocean science and stewardship.”

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About the Organizations

Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org

SpeSeas was established in 2017 to advance marine conservation through scientific research, education and advocacy in Trinidad and Tobago, and the wider Caribbean. For more information, visit https://speseas.org/. 

Florida Atlantic University serves more than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses along Florida’s Southeast coast. Recognized as one of only 13 institutions nationwide to achieve three Carnegie Foundation designations – R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production, Opportunity College and University, and Carnegie Community Engagement Classification – FAU stands at the intersection of academic excellence and social mobility. Ranked among the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report, FAU is also nationally recognized as a Top 25 Best-In-Class College and cited by Washington Monthly as “one of the country’s most effective engines of upward mobility.” To learn more, visit www.fau.edu.

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Video and photos available here.         

FORTALEZA, Brazil, July 7, 2026 — Scientists on a 35-day research expedition onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) discovered two new hydrothermal vent fields in a region of the middle of the Atlantic Ocean known as the Doldrums Megatransform and Fracture Zone, which lies just north of the equator about 800 miles off the northeast coast of Brazil. This large, tectonically active system cuts across the world’s longest mountain chain, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. While many hydrothermal vents have been found along the ridge, these are the first known vent fields to be discovered in and around the Doldrums system.

Initial observations suggest both vent fields are hybrid, heat-producing “plumbing” systems combining typical volcanic venting with serpentinization, a chemical reaction that occurs when rocks from the Earth’s mantle are exposed to seawater. Only a small number of mixed vent fields with both volcanic and serpentinization-related characteristics have been discovered worldwide. The Lost City hydrothermal vent field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a well-known example of hydrothermal circulation driven by serpentinization.

“This discovery shows why exploration still matters,” said the expedition’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Aaron Micallef, a senior scientist at MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute). “Even in the Atlantic Ocean, where plate boundaries have been studied for decades, there are still places where the first close look can reveal something entirely new. This expedition showed that even in one of the most remote corners of the ocean, our planet remains alive, dynamic, and full of surprises.”

One vent field was extensive, comprising 23 hydrothermal vents, 13 of which had active black smoker chimneys. It is 99,000 meters squared in size — about 24 acres, or 14 FIFA-standard football fields. At this site, the team sampled superheated fluids reaching 280 degrees Celsius (536 degrees Fahrenheit) and observed anemones, crabs, and thousands of blind Rimicaris shrimp. These animals rely on chemosynthetic bacteria that use chemicals in the vent fluids as an energy source. The second vent field, much smaller and weaker, was discovered on the expedition’s last dive with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian and was 170 kilometers (105 miles) from the first vent field. 

The expedition is the first time that Schmidt Ocean Institute’s new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), The Childlike Empress, has been used for scientific missions, demonstrating its effectiveness for quickly locating interesting seafloor features. 

During the expedition, scientists from the Brazilian Geological Survey shared observations of a water data anomaly collected in the region in 2013, which helped the team refine their search area. The team used R/V Falkor (too)’s shipboard sonar to map the region, then The Childlike Empress to generate high-resolution maps that allowed them to pinpoint the first vent field’s exact coordinates and deploy ROV SuBastian, leading to the visual confirmation of active hydrothermal vents in record time.

The science team was surprised to observe evidence of hydrothermal fluid circulation along faults, fractures, and scarps during all ROV dives undertaken across the Doldrums system. The discovery suggests that transform systems play a more significant role than previously recognized in drawing seawater into the oceanic crust and releasing it back into the ocean, and that hydrothermal venting may be more widespread in these regions than previously thought, Micallef said.

The expedition was also rich with deep-sea animal encounters. On one of the dives, the team observed two elusive bigfin squids (Magnapinna sp.), the deepest-dwelling squid known for its thread-like tentacles that can measure up to 8 meters (26 feet) in length. They also captured the first footage of a particular species of barreleye fish (Winteria telescopa), a deep-sea animal famous for its translucent head and tubular eyeballs.

“We arrived searching for vents, faults, and seamounts. We leave with something even more valuable: a deeper understanding of ecosystems in one of the least explored regions of the Atlantic Ocean,” said Dr. Paula Zapata Ramirez, assistant professor at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. “Every sample, every image, and every discovery brings us one step closer to understanding the hidden parts of our planet.”

“Mapping almost 147 kilometers squared at 1-meter resolution during our first AUV The Childlike Empress science mission with this team of experts rapidly uncovered hidden wonders of the deep sea,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “Serpentinization is a process in which seawater reacts with minerals in rocks, producing heat and chemical energy that allow life to thrive in the deep ocean without sunlight, so a better understanding of these systems could provide clues for finding life on other planets.”

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About the Organizations

Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org

MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) is a non-profit oceanographic research center founded in 1987 by the late Silicon Valley innovator and philanthropist David Packard. Our mission is to advance marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean. Learn more at mbari.org. 

The post The Doldrums Fracture Zone is Anything but Dull appeared first on Schmidt Ocean Institute.

An expedition to international waters off the coast of Brazil used state-of-the-art imaging systems to confirm new midwater species and observed the living 3D cellular structure of a microbe – a first for seagoing research.
Video and photos available here.

Fortaleza, Brazil— An international team of midwater experts on board Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too) discovered over two dozen new marine species on a recent expedition off the coast of Brazil in the tropical South Atlantic Ocean. The scientists used advanced technologies to explore the Ocean’s midwater — the water between the sunlit layer and the seafloor — which is Earth’s largest and least explored habitable ecosystem. It can take scientists decades to identify and describe new species, but the combination of technology and expertise enabled the team to confirm these species as new within a matter of days.

The list consists of an amphipod, a type of crustacean related to crabs and lobsters; a gossamer worm that moves faster than scientists expect it to based on its body shape; nine jellyfish; seven siphonophores, colonial organisms related to jellyfish and corals; seven comb jellies or ctenophores, famous for the glittering cilia they use to swim; four larvaceans, tadpole-like creatures that live in mucus houses and are more closely related to humans than invertebrates; and two giant rhizarians, single-celled organisms visible to the naked eye.

“The largest habitat on Earth, the midwater, is filled with incredible animals we are only just starting to understand,” said the expedition’s chief scientist, Dr. Karen Osborn of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. “I continue to be fascinated by the fantastic variety of solutions they have evolved to survive in this formidable environment, and that drives me to keep asking questions about our ocean.”

The team witnessed far more diversity and abundance of midwater organisms than they expected, said Osborn, including glass squid and a pelagic octopus feeding on a bright red jellyfish.

The Ocean’s midwater is one of the most challenging areas on Earth to explore because of its inaccessibility and immense volume. The Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s Ocean Shot Research Grant Program funded two midwater programs that made this work possible, one based at the University of Western Australia and the other at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, USA.

The technologies used to identify new species were a combination of imaging systems and genetic analyses.

The imaging systems included the DeepPIV (particle image velocimetry) and EyeRIS (remote imaging system) instruments, developed by the Bioinspiration Lab at MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute), which were attached to Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian. DeepPIV and EyeRIS are sophisticated, non-invasive tools for scanning marine animals; they use lasers to scan organisms and create 3D images of them. In addition, the team attached a shadowgraph camera from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) to the ROV, which can image the finer details of animals not visible in the 3D scans. The images help scientists describe the shape and internal structures of animals without having to collect them.

“It’s an incredible honor to not only view and experience this rare and inspiring midwater life, but also to be able to work towards describing and sharing that life broadly through the use of novel, non-invasive technologies,” said Dr. Kakani Katija, principal engineer of the Bioinspiration Lab at MBARI.

Many midwater animals are gelatinous, with soft, delicate bodies that are often damaged by traditional sampling methods. To address this challenge, the expedition used additional technologies that allowed scientists to observe animals in a controlled environment that mimics their natural habitat. These included a virtual reality chamber developed at the University of Western Australia and a “gravity machine” developed at Stanford University – a specialized microscope that functions as a hydrodynamic treadmill for studying microbes.

The team used another microscope developed at Stanford University to gain critical new insights into the physiology of midwater animals.  The microscope, known as Squid, is an open-source, confocal microscope. Using Squid, the team achieved a first for research at sea and imaged living internal cellular structures in 3D. One of the organisms imaged was a large single-celled microbe called a protist. The microscope enabled the scientists to observe how the protist’s cellular structure interacted with its glass skeleton.

“This opens a new door for researching deep-sea physiology, linking cellular architectures to organism function. We can now witness live internal processes within these extreme organisms adapted to withstand immense pressure and darkness,” said Dr. Manu Prakash of Stanford University.

In tandem with the high-resolution imagery, the team sequenced genomes from collected specimens onboard the vessel, enabling them to rapidly identify new species under the leadership of Dr. Cheryl Ames of Tohoku University and Dr. John Burns of Bigelow Laboratory.

“The novel suite of technologies on this cruise is a glimpse into the future of marine biological science,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “Schmidt Ocean Institute’s mission is to push technological advancement and this was our third cruise in collaboration with this team of scientists and engineers to test and further develop this innovative midwater equipment. We look forward to a future in which scientists study marine life as elegantly as this team did – and in virtual reality.”

Learn more about the previous two Designing the Future expeditions:
https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/designing-the-future/
https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/designing-the-future-2/

About the Organizations

Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.

The National Museum of Natural History is connecting people everywhere with Earth’s unfolding story. It is one of the most visited natural history museums in the world. Opened in 1910, the museum is dedicated to maintaining, preserving, and making accessible the world’s most extensive collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts. For more information, visit the museum on its website, blog, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent, nonprofit research institute located in East Boothbay, Maine. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Bigelow Laboratory scientists use innovative approaches to study the foundation of global ocean health and unlock its potential to improve the future for all life on our planet. Learn more at https://www.bigelow.org/

MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) is a non-profit oceanographic research center founded in 1987 by the late Silicon Valley innovator and philanthropist David Packard. Our mission is to advance marine science and engineering to understand our changing ocean. Learn more at mbari.org.

For over 110 years, The University of Western Australia has been a place where change is seen as an opportunity. As Western Australia’s first university and a member of the prestigious Group of Eight, we don’t just honour our history, we use it as a launchpad for the future, empowering our community to turn ambition into real-world impact. Learn more at https://www.uwa.edu.au/home

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Video and photos available here.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Scientists completed two transformative research expeditions in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean designed to fill major gaps in the understanding of the biological pump — the process by which the Ocean transfers carbon from the surface to the deep sea, which is vital to climate regulation. The cruises, supported by Schmidt Ocean Institute and Schmidt Sciences’ Ocean Biogeochemistry Virtual Institute (OBVI), took place between January and April on board the institute’s research vessel Falkor (too). 

The first expedition, Animals as Living Bioreactors, in January-February was led by Dr. Anitra Ingalls of the University of Washington, U.S., and collected data in waters far off the east coast of South America, from Argentina to Brazil. The team studied the digestive systems of fish, jellies, and other animals that undertake the world’s largest migration, swimming every night from the depths to feed at the surface, then returning to the deep before daybreak to evade predators. Billions of animals perform this daily migration, and scientists do not yet fully understand the role they play in carbon export to the deep.

“These animals feed at the surface daily, effectively capturing carbon, and then they carry that carbon in their guts down to 1,500 meters, which they eventually excrete,” said Ingalls. “We believe these animals are overlooked as a key part in the delivery of carbon to the deep.” 

One question the team aims to answer through further analyses is whether these animals’ gut microbiomes are transforming food into essential nutrients like vitamin B12 for animals living in deeper waters.

The team collected an abundance of animal samples for ongoing scientific research. Many will be donated to museums, some are animals that have not been observed in the South Atlantic, and others are likely new species, said Ingalls.

The second expedition in March-April, the Subtropical Underwater Biogeochemistry and Subsurface Export Alliance (SUBSEA), was led by Dr. Matthew Church of the University of Montana, U.S., and took place over 200 miles off the coast of Brazil. The SUBSEA team investigated how nutrients and carbon are cycled by microscopic algae, called phytoplankton, living in the Southeastern Atlantic Gyre. Ocean gyres are vast, nutrient-poor systems and among the most expansive habitats on Earth. Their surface can only be fully observed by satellites.

But Church’s team isn’t focused on the phytoplankton living at the surface. They are interested in those living at about 100 meters depth – where sunlight starts to dim – and satellites cannot be used to measure their activity.

On the expedition, they caught the tail end of a massive phytoplankton bloom that was beginning to die and decay. One hypothesis is that these surface plankton effectively provide “compost” for phytoplankton living further down. Questions remain about the source of the nutrients needed to sustain phytoplankton growth, including iron, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

“The processes that sustain subsurface phytoplankton remain mostly unknown,” said Church. “The outcomes of this cruise will specifically improve understanding the biological and chemical interactions taking place in the dimly lit portion of the upper ocean and the role they play in carbon export to deeper waters.”

Understanding the biological pump is critical because the Ocean absorbs one-third of the carbon dioxide produced by human activity, and scientists do not fully understand how these emissions impact ocean health. Both projects, Animals as Bioreactors and SUBSEA, are long-term projects supported by Schmidt Sciences in the OBVI program.

“Our Ocean plays a critical role in this planet’s climate,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “Together with the Schmidt Sciences’ OBVI program, we are excited to support the mission to fill in major research gaps in the global carbon cycle that have been understudied for decades because they are hard to quantify.”

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About the Organizations

Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.

Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space—as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.

Established in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the pre-eminent public higher education and research institutions in the world. With an enrollment of 60,000 students across more than 200 academic majors, the UW is dedicated to providing access to an excellent education for all students. The University is home to more than 100 members of the U.S. National Academies and elite programs in many fields, and is consistently among the nation’s top five universities in receipt of federal research funding. The UW has campuses in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma, as well as UW Medicine, a world-class academic medical center with hospitals and clinics across the Puget Sound region.

Founded in 1893, the University of Montana is a top-ranked research university and its impact is felt locally and globally. Grizzlies go on to find success abroad and at home, known for their unbridled curiosity and creativity unmatched on either side of the Rockies. The University of Montana strives to be both accessible and accountable — respected worldwide and responsive at home. What’s made at the University of Montana is remaking the world.

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Video and photos available here.

Buenos Aires, AR — On an Argentinian-led science expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too), a science team observed stunning biodiversity along the country’s continental shelf. Traveling along the entire length of the coastline, from Buenos Aires in the north to an area offshore from Tierra del Fuego, the team documented the largest known Bathelia candida coral reef in the global ocean, several other rich reef complexes, and 28 suspected new species, including worms, corals, sea urchins, sea snails, and sea anemones.

“We were not expecting to see this level of biodiversity in the Argentine deep sea, and are so excited to see it teeming with life,” said the expedition’s chief scientist, Dr. María Emilia Bravo of the University of Buenos Aires and CONICET. “Seeing all the biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and connectivity unfolding together was incredible. We opened a window into our country’s biodiversity only to find there are so many more windows left to be opened.”

Covering at least 0.4 square kilometers, the Bathelia reef is nearly the size of Vatican City. This stony cold-water coral provides habitat for other organisms, such as fish, crustaceans, and octopuses. Recognized as a Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) indicator species, Bathelia candida has been documented throughout the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, with the largest patches off the coast of Argentina, but scientists hadn’t understood its extent until this expedition. The team found Bathelia reefs 600 kilometers (373 miles) further south than its known range, at 43.5° latitude.

The team also documented Argentina’s first deep-water whale fall at 3890-meters-depth and a rare phantom jellyfish — a deep-sea jelly that can grow as long as a school bus. Whale falls — places on the seafloor where a whale’s body lands after the animal dies — serve as temporary ecosystems, providing food for animals, including octopuses, sharks, and crabs. In addition, the scientists observed ancient Bubblegum coral gardens (Paragorgia arborea) nestled among large sponges in the 3000-meter-deep Malvinas Trough near Tierra del Fuego.

“We collected an unprecedented number of chemical, physical, and biological samples that will be used to understand connections in our waters for years to come,” said Dr. Melisa Fernández Severini of Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía and CONICET. “These samples represent a unique opportunity to understand not only how extraordinary these extreme ecosystems are, but also how vulnerable they can be.”

The team’s primary goal was to locate cold seeps, deep-sea environments where methane and other chemicals released from the seafloor serve as energy for microbes, which provide sustenance for animals like clams, mussels, and tube worms. They found one active seep measuring 1 square kilometer — twice the size of the Bathelia reef — which included a large patch of chemosynthetic clams.

Scientific understanding of how cold seeps and deep-sea coral reefs interact is still in its adolescence, said Bravo.

The team observed trash in some areas, including fishing nets, garbage bags, and a VHS tape in near-pristine condition, owing to the durability of plastics. The sticker on the side of the tape is in Korean, but the team is not sure how it arrived off the Argentinian coast or how old it is.

“With every expedition to the deep sea, we find the Ocean is full of life—as much as we see on land, and perhaps more because the Ocean contains 98% of the living space on this planet,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s executive director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “We have been privileged to work with outstanding scientists across three expeditions in Argentinian waters, and look forward to seeing their research continue to unfold, unlocking new understanding and inspiration.”

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About the Organizations
Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.

University of Buenos Aires (UBA) Founded in 1821, UBA is a public, tuition-free and secular institution, recognized for its academic excellence, its strong commitment to scientific research, and its contribution to the country’s social, cultural, and productive development. With a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs, UBA educates professionals and generates knowledge across all fields, promoting critical thinking, inclusion, and community engagement as core pillars of its mission.

The National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) is the main agency that promotes Science and Technology in Argentina. Its mission is the development and the execution of scientific and technological activities throughout the national territory in all areas of knowledge and the training of highly specialized human resources. According to this mission, the members of CONICET carry out high-impact research both in basic and applied science and its highly qualified human resources develop technologies in line with the demands and needs of both public and private institutions, and society in general.

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Video and photos available here.

Palo Alto, California, USA — Schmidt Ocean Institute announces it has mapped 2 million square kilometers of seafloor — about the size of Greenland — and this year, has made two significant changes to advance the seafloor mapping capabilities of R/V Falkor (too): it radically changed the shape of the ship’s bow and added the gold standard of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) to its technology suite.

“There has always been a commitment from our organization to continuously improve what we can provide to the scientific community,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Senior Director of Maritime Infrastructure, Eric King. “We moved quickly to make these latest changes in response to lessons learned in our first two years of expeditions aboard R/V Falkor (too), and we have never been better positioned to provide the best quality data to scientists around the world.”

Over a two-month dry dock period (28 April – 28 June) in Talcahuano, Chile, the team reconstructed the bow of R/V Falkor (too), transforming it from a bulbous bow more common on offshore commercial vessels into a streamlined, V-shaped bow optimized for science missions. The new bow significantly improves the precision and reliability of the ship’s sonar systems in capturing high-quality mapping data, even in challenging weather conditions. It can now capture high-resolution data in 6-11 knots (~7-13 mph) and in swells exceeding three meters.

R/V Falkor (too)’s new bow helps to eliminate bubbles from interfering with the ship’s sonars and sensors, which proved challenging with the previous bulbous bow— an aspect of the original MV Polar Queen vessel design that assisted in faster transits across the ocean. Seafloor maps are created using multibeam sonar technology, which sends sound from the vessel to the seafloor. Scientists, especially hydrographers, use the time it takes for the sound to travel between the ship and the seafloor to calculate the depth, creating a bathymetric map and revealing seafloor features like underwater mountains and canyons. 

“Reconstructing the bow was a massive undertaking and a clear demonstration of Schmidt Ocean Institute’s commitment to advancing oceanography. The shipyard period required dedication and hard work from teams across the entire organisation, including our fantastic crew,” said Captain Peter Reynolds of R/V Falkor (too). “The result is the ability to collect higher-quality sonar data at greater speeds. Combined with our new AUV, this significantly enhances our scientific capability during our expeditions.”

The state-of-the-art Kongsberg Hugin Superior AUV, called The Childlike Empress, can operate to depths of up to 6000 meters and stay in the water for up to 72 hours — offering access to 98% of the ocean floor, with the exception of the deepest trenches. The organization’s ROV SuBastian can operate in waters up to 4500 meters. The AUV, the most adaptable and advanced commercially available vehicle,  will be mission-ready by mid-2026 after additional training and field tests.

“The Childlike Empress is a game-changer for scientific mission planning,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Engineering Senior Manager, Jason Williams. “Where once it could take weeks to locate intriguing seafloor features like hydrothermal vents, we can now identify areas of interest within a day, accelerating our knowledge of the global ocean.”

The AUV has many sonars and sensors, including a traditional multibeam system, sub-bottom profiler, a magnetometer; oxygen, methane, and dissolved carbon dioxide sensors; a conductivity, temperature, depth (CTD) sensor; imaging system; and Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS). Where multibeam systems collect data at resolutions of 1-50 meters (depending on the depth and type of sonar), SAS can collect data every 25 centimeters (2 feet), achieving much higher resolution, producing some of the clearest seafloor images. These maps help pinpoint the exact locations of hydrothermal vents, shipwrecks, and other interesting seafloor features. 

The AUV can house additional sensors and imaging equipment and is adaptable to the scientists’ needs, Williams said.

Seafloor mapping is critical for improving our understanding of ocean ecosystems, resource management, safe navigation, and more. Just over 70% of the ocean floor remains unmapped.

“Schmidt Ocean Institute is committed to several global initiatives, and is a partner of the Nippon Foundation – GEBCO Seabed 2030,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “We have contributed  2 million square kilometers to the global seafloor map, and with The Childlike Empress AUV and our new bow, we are better equipped to contribute to the global effort to map the seafloor and speed up the pace of ocean discovery.”

About the Organization

Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.

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Video and photos available here.

Palo Alto, California, USA — Scientists on an Argentinian-led expedition onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) deployed an array of technologies to collect the most robust data set available about how the major Malvinas ocean current interacts with submarine canyons and influences Argentina’s renowned marine biodiversity. Their goal was to better understand the region’s plankton blooms, the basis of the food web that sustains the Argentinian fishing industry. These plankton blooms are so large that they can be observed from space. 

The expedition was led by Dr. Silvia Ines Romero of Argentina’s Servicio de Hidrografia Naval. Her team hypothesized that these submarine canyons serve as conduits between the deep sea and shallower waters – providing essential nutrients that support Argentina’s massive phytoplankton blooms, which, in turn, support thriving marine ecosystems. 

Over 27 days in October, they used a glider, 46 sea surface drifters, two seafloor landers, a moored buoy, and additional shipboard technologies to map four submarine canyons and surrounding areas to collect data on how currents interact with the seafloor.

The expedition was Schmidt Ocean Institute’s second in collaboration with Argentinian scientists and within the country’s waters. The team leading the first expedition to the Mar Del Plata submarine canyon observed rich biodiversity and fragile cold-water coral ecosystems. 

“The Mar del Plata expedition explored what lives in these canyons,” said Romero. “We studied how these canyons can facilitate such incredible biodiversity. What are the mechanisms— the currents and the chemistry— that support all of this life?”

Knowing the shape of the canyons is the first step to understanding how currents move within them, Romero said. The high-quality maps, using data from R/V Falkor (too)’s sonars, revealed striking seafloor features; some canyons had steep walls, while others had terraces. 

Scientists know the canyons concentrate phytoplankton, the base of the marine food web, along the shelfbreak, particularly near the canyon heads and surface waters, but no one had collected all the necessary physical and chemical oceanographic data documenting the conditions that facilitate the large blooms in these areas.

The team will spend the coming months analyzing the data to understand the specific mechanisms that fuel phytoplankton blooms and control currents within the canyons. The research will provide insight regarding harmful algal blooms, biodiversity protection, and climate change resilience. The high-quality maps will be given to the Argentine Hydrographic Service to improve navigational charts. They will also be a part of a global effort to map the seafloor through the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 project. 

“This expedition was a journey of continuous wonder,” said Romero. “We didn’t just carry out multidisciplinary marine science that will yield unprecedented results; we also built a collective memory of the ocean, sparked new questions, and planted the seeds of future vocations. We showed that Argentina is fertile ground for leading cutting-edge oceanography.”

The team also used Schmidt Ocean Institute’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian to observe the biodiversity and collect samples in the canyons. With the high-resolution ROV cameras, they discovered coral-covered walls, black sediment that spewed bubbles, suggesting the presence of methane seeps, and large schools of fish.

“When we think of the Ocean, we often think of the abundance and fantastic life that resides within it,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director Dr. Jyotika Virmani. “Yet that life is strongly controlled by the physics, the chemistry, and the geology of the Ocean—it is all intertwined. We cannot understand one without the other, which is why understanding the physical dynamics is vital to marine management and the local ocean economy.”

About the Organizations
Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.

Departamento Oceanografía, Servicio de Hidrografia Naval
The Oceanography Department of the Naval Hydrographic Service, created by Order No. 8 of the Director General of Navigation and Hydrography on September 16, 1953, has the mission of carrying out and promoting studies, surveys, and research in physical oceanography, geology, geophysics, marine chemistry, and other marine sciences related to maritime activities that contribute to the country’s economic and scientific development. Throughout its history, the Oceanography Department has established itself as a national reference institute in marine sciences, integrating observations, analyses, and technological developments that support charting, navigational aids, and various public services established by Law 19.922, the Law of the Naval Hydrographic Service, which assigns the provision of these services to the institution. Its work provides critical knowledge for maritime safety, resource management, environmental monitoring, and the strengthening of the national blue economy.

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