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Scientists Identify Golden Orb as Sea Anemone Skin in Gulf of Alaska

On Wednesday, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists identified a mysterious 'golden orb' discovered in 2023 as the base of a giant sea anemone, Relicanthus daphneae, solving a deep-sea mystery.
Researchers discovered the shiny object during the 2023 Seascape Alaska 5 expedition, spotting the roughly 4-inch mass stuck to a rock around 3,250 meters below the Gulf of Alaska's surface.
Whole-Genome sequencing confirmed the tissue was 'genetically almost identical' to a Relicanthus daphneae specimen from 2021, after initial DNA testing proved inconclusive due to potential contamination.
The orb consists of 'fibrous material' of anemone skin that 'seems to have been left behind,' NOAA officials said, though scientists remain uncertain whether the animal died or relocated.
'So often in deep ocean exploration, we find these captivating mysteries,' said NOAA Ocean Exploration acting director William Mowitt, emphasizing how advanced DNA techniques unlock secrets of the deep.

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'Golden Orb' Found During 2023 Deep Sea Exploration Identified

The identity of a mysterious "golden orb" scientists discovered in the depths of the ocean in the Gulf of Alaska has finally been revealed. The post WATCH — ‘Secrets of the Deep’: Scientists Identify ‘Golden Orb’ Found During 2023 Ocean Exploration appeared first on Breitbart.

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