Down past the jellyfish, through the water column and beyond the light is the deep sea: the place between 200 to 11,000m (650 to 36,000ft) below the ocean's surface. The extremely high pressures and cold, dark conditions make unique habitats for the surprisingly colourful life here bizarre creatures like hairy-chested crabs and glittery Elvis worms.
But some people have their eyes on a different sort of riches formed in these unusual conditions: rare earth metals. Dr Helen Scales explains the drive to mine the materials buried in the deepest parts of the ocean.
THE WORD 'MINING' USUALLY BRINGS UP IMAGES OF GRUBBY FACES IN HARD HATS DISAPPEARING UNDERGROUND. SO WHAT IS MINING WHEN IT'S IN THE DEEP SEA?
It's just as grubby as mining on land - the difference is there aren't people actually in deep-sea mines. It's all going to be done remotely, using similar sorts of camera and robot technologies to those scientists are using to explore the deep sea. Only they'll be much bigger, with mining machinery bolted to them.
There are three main mining targets: polymetallic nodules, seamount crusts and hydrothermal vents.
For mining nodules - these dense lumps of rare metals - imagine a massive digger with caterpillar treads and, on the front, a massive scoop. That scoop is going to stick forks into the seabed and then drag them forwards, pick up the rocks and pop them into a tube a huge pipe that's several miles long and will suck those rocks up to the surface.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من BBC Science Focus.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من BBC Science Focus.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?
The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.
IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?
A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.
WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?
The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.
WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?
The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.
HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.
THE LUNGFISH
In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.
ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?
The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.
Should we scrap daylight saving time?
Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health
THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS
SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS
MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION
The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?
