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

The deep sea is a vast reserve of mystery and possibility. The residents of the deep sea, and the minerals that compose its floor, are of growing importance to modern society. Microorganisms offer significant biopharmaceutical and industrial promises and some of deep-sea minerals are increasingly rare and in-demand.

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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
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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
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Through the Ocean Exploration Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Opportunity, the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research selected five projects for financial support totaling approximately $2.4 million.
Fiscal Year 2020 NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research Federal Funding Opportunity Grants
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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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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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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

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