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During the 2017 Discovering the Deep: Exploring Remote Pacific MPAs expedition, this sea spider was seen feeding on a cup coral along a steep slope on the southern ridge of Baker Island.

Are sea spiders really spiders?

Sea spiders don’t have lungs, they get oxygen through their exoskeleton. In the deep sea, they may also be lacking eyes.

Cerianthid anemones, like this one found at San Juan Seamount, build rubbery tubes that they live in, which is why they are also known as “tube anemones”. (Depth: approximately 2,550 meters.)

Benthic Communities and Their Biopharmaceutical Potential Across Mineral-Rich Marine Biomes

A mapping watchstander and marine ecologist viewing canyon data using Fledermaus software in the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer control room.

NOAA releases manual to inform deepwater exploration mapping

Areas like this microbial community on the seafloor are epicenters of microbial interaction, and based on what we learned from exploring nature on land, may hold the potential for great discoveries. Neosporin antibiotic ointment is made up of the three antibiotics neomycin, polymyxin and bacitracin, all from soil bacteria; the original statin drug was discovered from a fungus; the cancer drug Taxol was originally isolated from the Pacific Yew tree; and the metastatic breast cancer drug Halaven is derived from a marine sponge. What help can methane seeps provide for diseases of today and tomorrow?

Gradients of Blue Economic Seep Resources: Eavesdropping on Microbial Discussions to Cure Disease

About OER

About OER

Learn about the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, the nation's only federal organization dedicated to exploring the global ocean.

Data and Results

Data & Results

Access diverse scientific data, video, images, documents, and other information associated with office-supported ocean exploration expeditions.

For Educators

For Educators

Find educational materials and professional development opportunities for educators designed to enhance ocean literacy.

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Featured Videos

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Sampling Around Methane Seeps

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Time-lapse of Processing Mud Samples

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Diving for Details

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Exploring Deepwater Ecosystems with eDNA