Nearly 60,000 years ago, a bald cypress forest flourished on the banks of a prehistoric river near the Gulf of Mexico. Now, a team of scientists from Northeastern University and the University of Utah, funded by OER, are working to unlock the forest’s secrets, including its potential to harbor new compounds for medicine and biotechnology.

Bioprospecting for Industrial Enzymes and Drug Compounds in an Ancient Submarine Forest

Nearly 60,000 years ago, a bald cypress forest flourished on the banks of a prehistoric river near the Gulf of Mexico. Now, a team of scientists from Northeastern University and the University of Utah, funded by OER, are working to unlock the forest’s secrets, including its potential to harbor new compounds for medicine and biotechnology.

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Participating in a virtual meeting and want to jazz up your background (or hide a messy office)? We’ve got you covered.
Ocean Exploration Virtual Meeting Backgrounds
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Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer explores the Mariana Trench at the depth of 6,000 meters (3.7 miles).
What is the “deep” ocean?
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New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration: The E/V Nautilus, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, and R/V Falkor 2019 Field Season is the tenth consecutive supplement on ocean exploration to accompany Oceanography.
New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration: The E/V Nautilus, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, and R/V Falkor 2019 Field Season Published
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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.

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Ten Years of Collecting Ocean Exploration Data from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer

Ten Years of Collecting Ocean Exploration Data

The NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research has been collecting ocean exploration data from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer since 2009.

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Data and Results

Data & Results

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

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For Educators

For Educators

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

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Recent Expeditions

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Recent Video Highlights

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Ribbonfish

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Tug o' War

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Oh My Grouper, Look at that Shark

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Giant Squid

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