In a momentous decision, Norway's parliament, the Storting has given its nod to a government initiative allowing Arctic seabed mineral exploration.&nbsp;

This sets the course for mining exploration into parts of its seabed, including a sprawling 280,000-square-kilometre expanse, predominantly located in the icy depths of the Arctic. Despite opposition, the plan received 80 affirmative votes and only 20 dissenting voices.

<h2>Norway takes a step towards becoming a significant mineral producer</h2>

With this, Norway, a leader in oil and gas production in Western Europe, ventures into the uncharted realms of ocean floor mining — which can potentially transform it into a formidable mineral producer, reports AFP.

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The decision follows a comprehensive report unveiled by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, which in 2023, identified resources nestled beneath the ocean's surface—riches encompassing minerals such as copper, zinc, and cobalt.

Championed by a Labour-led coalition minority government, in a bid to lead the green transition, this ambitious proposal advocates the exploration of the Arctic seabed.&nbsp;

In an impassioned plea, policymakers underscored the importance of these minerals in developing fuel cells, solar panels, electric cars, and mobile technology.&nbsp;

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<h2>Dissenting voices</h2>

Yet, this stride into the deep sea has provoked disquiet among environmentalists and scientists who warn that the venture threatens marine ecosystems. They caution that disruptive noise may also affect the ocean's carbon absorption capacity and that the tranquillity of marine life will be severely affected.

Countries like France and the UK have sounded the clarion call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. In response to the concerns, the Norwegian plan asserts that each step will be taken keeping in mind "environmental considerations." However, organisations like Norway's Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Polar Institute have pointed out that there exists a lack of essential knowledge to assess the environmental impact of deep sea mining.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a momentous decision, Norway's parliament, the Storting has given its nod to a government initiative allowing Arctic seabed mineral exploration. This sets the course for mining exploration into parts of its seabed, including a sprawling 280,000-square-kilometre expanse, predominantly located in the icy depths of the Arctic.

In a momentous decision, Norway's parliament, the Storting has given its nod to a government initiative allowing Arctic seabed mineral exploration. This sets the course for mining exploration into parts of its seabed, including a sprawling 280,000-square-kilometre expanse, predominantly located in the icy depths of the Arctic. Despite opposition, the plan received 80 affirmative votes and only 20 dissenting voices. Norway takes a step towards becoming a significant mineral producer With this, Norway, a leader in oil and gas production in Western Europe, ventures into the uncharted realms of ocean floor mining — which can potentially transform it into a formidable mineral producer, reports AFP. Also read | 'Clearly unacceptable': India condemns Israel-Hamas war's rising civilian death toll, calls for de-escalation The decision follows a comprehensive report unveiled by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, which in 2023, identified resources nestled beneath the ocean's surface—riches encompassing minerals such as copper, zinc, and cobalt. Championed by a Labour-led coalition minority government, in a bid to lead the green transition, this ambitious proposal advocates the exploration of the Arctic seabed. In an impassioned plea, policymakers underscored the importance of these minerals in developing fuel cells, solar panels, electric cars, and mobile technology. Also read | Melania Trump's mother Amalija Knavs passes away after long illness Dissenting voices Yet, this stride into the deep sea has provoked disquiet among environmentalists and scientists who warn that the venture threatens marine ecosystems. They caution that disruptive noise may also affect the ocean's carbon absorption capacity and that the tranquillity of marine life will be severely affected. Countries like France and the UK have sounded the clarion call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. In response to the concerns, the Norwegian plan asserts that each step will be taken keeping in mind "environmental considerations." However, organisations like Norway's Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Polar Institute have pointed out that there exists a lack of essential knowledge to assess the environmental impact of deep sea mining. (With inputs from agencies)

Norway’s Parliament approves deep-sea mineral exploration, ignites environmental debate

A team of deep-sea explorers found a rather strange object at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Science enthusiasts are calling it a ‘spooky golden egg’.&nbsp;

According to a report in the Miami Herald, scientists found the so-called golden egg off the coast of Southern Alaska on August 30. The shiny object appeared to have a hole in one side where a creature may have hatched, suggested explorers from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week.

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The team of explorers found this shiny golden orb when they were exploring an extinct volcano during the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition, at about a depth of two miles.&nbsp;

<h2>Efforts to unravel the mystery of the ‘golden egg’ continue&nbsp;</h2>

In an attempt to unravel the mystery behind the ‘golden egg’, a team of oceanographers delicately extracted a sample, initially anticipating something eerie concealed within the golden shell. However, what emerged was nothing short of a strange texture resembling silk rather than the expected gelatinous substance.&nbsp;

Samples were then carefully collected in tubes and taken to a laboratory for analysis.&nbsp;

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“I just hope when we poke it, something doesn’t decide to come out,” a marine scientist said. “It’s like the beginning of a horror movie. When our collective knowledge can’t identify it, it’s something weird. What kind of an animal would make an egg casing like that?”

The unearthing of the ‘spooky golden egg’ not only interests experts but has also generated curiosity in online communities, drawing comparisons to scenarios right out of an X-files episode.

Kerry Howell, a professor of deep-sea ecology at the University of Plymouth, told the Mail Online that the object is “weird”.

“In my 20 years exploring the deep sea I have not seen anything like that,” she said. “It’s always exciting to see new things and I will wait eagerly for the analysis of the sample to understand what it actually is.”

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“There are many many undiscovered species in the deep sea so this could be related to a new species quite easily.”

As the scientific community tries to find answers to this astonishing discovery, various hypotheses have been put forth. Some have considered the possibility that it might be an ancient eggshell or the remnants of a deceased sea sponge. Yet, the true identity and origin of this mysterious object continue to amaze experts and the online community alike.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A team of deep-sea explorers found a rather strange object at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Science enthusiasts are calling it a ‘spooky golden egg’. According to a report in the Miami Herald, scientists found the so-called golden egg off the coast of Southern Alaska on August 30.

A team of deep-sea explorers found a rather strange object at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Science enthusiasts are calling it a ‘spooky golden egg’. According to a report in the Miami Herald, scientists found the so-called golden egg off the coast of Southern Alaska on August 30. The shiny object appeared to have a hole in one side where a creature may have hatched, suggested explorers from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) last week. Also Read | Scientists grow human embryo model without sperm or egg, pave way to unravel mysteries of early development The team of explorers found this shiny golden orb when they were exploring an extinct volcano during the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition, at about a depth of two miles. Efforts to unravel the mystery of the ‘golden egg’ continue In an attempt to unravel the mystery behind the ‘golden egg’, a team of oceanographers delicately extracted a sample, initially anticipating something eerie concealed within the golden shell. However, what emerged was nothing short of a strange texture resembling silk rather than the expected gelatinous substance. Samples were then carefully collected in tubes and taken to a laboratory for analysis. Also Read | India's Sun mission Aditya-L1 captures images of Earth and Moon “I just hope when we poke it, something doesn’t decide to come out,” a marine scientist said. “It’s like the beginning of a horror movie. When our collective knowledge can’t identify it, it’s something weird. What kind of an animal would make an egg casing like that?” The unearthing of the ‘spooky golden egg’ not only interests experts but has also generated curiosity in online communities, drawing comparisons to scenarios right out of an X-files episode. Kerry Howell, a professor of deep-sea ecology at the University of Plymouth, told the Mail Online that the object is “weird”. “In my 20 years exploring the deep sea I have not seen anything like that,” she said. “It’s always exciting to see new things and I will wait eagerly for the analysis of the sample to understand what it actually is.” Also Read | Number of people under 50 diagnosed with cancer has surged worldwide, reveals study “There are many many undiscovered species in the deep sea so this could be related to a new species quite easily.” As the scientific community tries to find answers to this astonishing discovery, various hypotheses have been put forth. Some have considered the possibility that it might be an ancient eggshell or the remnants of a deceased sea sponge. Yet, the true identity and origin of this mysterious object continue to amaze experts and the online community alike. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Scientists find mysterious never-seen-before 'spooky golden egg' at the bottom of Pacific Ocean

Rare deep-sea brine pools found in the Red Sea can potentially provide insight into the beginnings of life on Earth. According to recent research, they may also provide information on long-term environmental changes in the area. 
Despite being rare and small in size, brine pools are an intense oasis of "macrofaunal and microbial" biodiversity in an otherwise sparsely populated bottom of the ocean.&nbsp;

Talking to Live Science, Sam Purkis, professor and chair of the Department of Marine Geosciences at the University of Miami, and research lead author stated: "Our current understanding is that life originated on Earth in the deep sea, almost certainly in anoxic — without oxygen — conditions."&nbsp;

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He added that deep-sea brine pools are of great scientific interest because they represent one of the most extreme&nbsp;inhabited environments on Earth.

"Despite being devoid of oxygen and hypersaline, they are teeming with a rich community of so-called 'extremophile' microbes. Studying this community, hence allows a glimpse into the sort of conditions where life first appeared on our planet."

As per the research published in the science journal Nature, these can&nbsp;also direct the hunt for life on "other water worlds" elsewhere in the universe. Brine pools can&nbsp;also help with predicting floods and tsunamis due to the "exquisitely intact" sediments found there.

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The pools lack the typical creatures that inhabit and survive on the seabed, such as burrowing shrimp, worms, and mollusks, because the brine lacks oxygen. Typically, these creatures "bioturbate" or "churn up" the seafloor, upsetting the sediments that build up there, according to Purkis. "Not so with the brine pools. Here, any sedimentary layers that settle to the bed of the brine pool remain exquisitely intact."

In addition to records of earthquakes and tsunami, the core samples that the researchers took from the newly discovered brine lakes "represent an unbroken record of past rainfall in the region, stretching back more than 1,000 years," said Purkis.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Rare deep-sea brine pools found in the Red Sea can potentially provide insight into the beginnings of life on Earth. According to recent research, they may also provide information on long-term environmental changes in the area.

Rare deep-sea brine pools found in the Red Sea can potentially provide insight into the beginnings of life on Earth. According to recent research, they may also provide information on long-term environmental changes in the area. Despite being rare and small in size, brine pools are an intense oasis of "macrofaunal and microbial" biodiversity in an otherwise sparsely populated bottom of the ocean. Talking to Live Science, Sam Purkis, professor and chair of the Department of Marine Geosciences at the University of Miami, and research lead author stated: "Our current understanding is that life originated on Earth in the deep sea, almost certainly in anoxic — without oxygen — conditions." Watch | Is there life on Venus? Here's what Cambridge University researchers say He added that deep-sea brine pools are of great scientific interest because they represent one of the most extreme inhabited environments on Earth. "Despite being devoid of oxygen and hypersaline, they are teeming with a rich community of so-called 'extremophile' microbes. Studying this community, hence allows a glimpse into the sort of conditions where life first appeared on our planet." As per the research published in the science journal Nature, these can also direct the hunt for life on "other water worlds" elsewhere in the universe. Brine pools can also help with predicting floods and tsunamis due to the "exquisitely intact" sediments found there. Also read | Ancient microbes can help in finding traces of alien life, new study suggests The pools lack the typical creatures that inhabit and survive on the seabed, such as burrowing shrimp, worms, and mollusks, because the brine lacks oxygen. Typically, these creatures "bioturbate" or "churn up" the seafloor, upsetting the sediments that build up there, according to Purkis. "Not so with the brine pools. Here, any sedimentary layers that settle to the bed of the brine pool remain exquisitely intact." In addition to records of earthquakes and tsunami, the core samples that the researchers took from the newly discovered brine lakes "represent an unbroken record of past rainfall in the region, stretching back more than 1,000 years," said Purkis. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Newly discovered rare deep-sea brine pools can help look for ‘alien’ life elsewhere in the universe

A rare deep-sea fish, which has been named after a mythical creature, has been found by experts in the US, media reports said. &nbsp;

The fish, which is called highfin dragonfish (Bathophilus flemingi), was spotted during an expedition in Monterey Bay, California state of the US, recently by marine biologists. &nbsp;

It is a special discovery as this species is the rarest of all dragonfish. It has been spotted only a few times by scientists till now. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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This highfin dragonfish has been found at a depth of 980 feet (300 meters) in Monterey Bay, a report by Live Science said. &nbsp;

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A remarkable sighting in the deep sea! Dragonfish lurk in the dark depths. 🐉🐟🖤 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FreshFromTheDeep?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FreshFromTheDeep</a> <a href="https://t.co/2uODqB5vwS">pic.twitter.com/2uODqB5vwS</a>
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"They are just amazing animals, and part of what is appealing is that color pattern," Bruce Robison, senior scientist with Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) told Live Science. He is also the research lead for the team, which made the discovery. &nbsp;

The researchers with the MBARI have been scouring the depths of the bay for three decades with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). &nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Decoding UFOs: What do we know about ‘flying saucers’?

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This fish was discovered by Robison and a team of researchers during a week-long expedition on the research vehicle (RV) Western Flyer. &nbsp;

During a short time at sea, the team also conducted several experiments and observations. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This fish uses a unique type of camouflage and hunts like an ambush predator. It’s prey gets lured by the dragonfish with the help of a bioluminescent filament extending from its chin. "It uses that to attract prey that see the spot of glowing light and get drawn to it because they think it's something small enough that they can eat," Robison added. When the prey approaches close, the dragonfish's wide jaws attack it. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A rare deep-sea fish, which has been named after a mythical creature, has been found by experts in the US, media reports said. The fish, which is called highfin dragonfish (Bathophilus flemingi), was spotted during an expedition in Monterey Bay, California state of the US, recently by marine biologists.

A rare deep-sea fish, which has been named after a mythical creature, has been found by experts in the US, media reports said. The fish, which is called highfin dragonfish (Bathophilus flemingi), was spotted during an expedition in Monterey Bay, California state of the US, recently by marine biologists. It is a special discovery as this species is the rarest of all dragonfish. It has been spotted only a few times by scientists till now. Also Read | Revisiting prehistoric era: Fossils of 3 ichthyosaurs including giant tooth found in Swiss Alps, says study This highfin dragonfish has been found at a depth of 980 feet (300 meters) in Monterey Bay, a report by Live Science said. A remarkable sighting in the deep sea! Dragonfish lurk in the dark depths. 🐉🐟🖤 #FreshFromTheDeep pic.twitter.com/2uODqB5vwS — MBARI (@MBARI_News) May 3, 2022 × "They are just amazing animals, and part of what is appealing is that color pattern," Bruce Robison, senior scientist with Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) told Live Science. He is also the research lead for the team, which made the discovery. The researchers with the MBARI have been scouring the depths of the bay for three decades with remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). Watch | Decoding UFOs: What do we know about ‘flying saucers’? This fish was discovered by Robison and a team of researchers during a week-long expedition on the research vehicle (RV) Western Flyer. During a short time at sea, the team also conducted several experiments and observations. This fish uses a unique type of camouflage and hunts like an ambush predator. It’s prey gets lured by the dragonfish with the help of a bioluminescent filament extending from its chin. "It uses that to attract prey that see the spot of glowing light and get drawn to it because they think it's something small enough that they can eat," Robison added. When the prey approaches close, the dragonfish's wide jaws attack it. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies)

Catch a glimpse! Rare deep-sea fish found in Monterey Bay, US by experts

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Norway’s Parliament approves deep-sea mineral exploration, ignites environmental debate

Scientists find mysterious never-seen-before 'spooky golden egg' at the bottom of Pacific Ocean

Newly discovered rare deep-sea brine pools can help look for ‘alien’ life elsewhere in the universe

Catch a glimpse! Rare deep-sea fish found in Monterey Bay, US by experts