A strange object known as a “golden orb” has baffled scientists and gained public attention after it was collected during a 2023 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expedition. More than two years later, researchers have finally determined what it is.
Discovered at a depth of 3,250 meters (more than two miles) in the Gulf of Alaska, this unusual golden nugget turned out to be the remains of the dead tissue of a giant deep-sea sea anemone. Relicanthus daphnia. Specifically, it was part of the base that anchors the sea anemone to the rocky surface of the ocean floor.
It is not uncommon to encounter unfamiliar creatures during NOAA ocean exploration missions aboard the NOAA vessel Oceanus Explorer. By sharing knowledge and collaborating, scientists can often quickly identify these discoveries. But some discoveries resist easy answers, making the “golden sphere” one of those rare and enduring mysteries.
(See link to video below article.)
Discovery in the Gulf of Alaska
In 2023, the remotely operated Deep Discoverer vehicle (launched from the Oceanos Explorer) was exploring more than three miles below the surface of the Gulf of Alaska when it discovered something unusual. Resting on the rock was a round, golden object with a small opening, unlike anything the team had seen before.
This discovery immediately raised questions. Was it an egg case, a sponge, or something entirely new? Some wondered if a creature had entered or exited through the opening. Its unusual appearance aroused widespread curiosity and speculation.
For further investigation, the team carefully collected the objects using a suction sampler and sent them to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) for further investigation.
Complex investigations using DNA and microscopy
Solving the mystery of the “Golden Sphere” required years of careful analysis. Unlike simpler identifications, this case required multiple scientific approaches and expertise.
“We were working with hundreds of different samples, and we thought that a routine process might solve the mystery,” explains Dr. Allen Collins, a zoologist and director of the NOAA Fisheries National Systematic Laboratory, physically located within the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. “However, this became a special case that required the concentrated efforts and expertise of several different individuals. This was a complex puzzle that required morphological, genetic, deep-sea and bioinformatics expertise to solve.”
Researchers from NOAA Fisheries and the Smithsonian Institution used an integrated taxonomic approach that combined physical and genetic testing. Initial analysis reveals that the object lacks typical animal features. Instead, it consists of a fibrous layer filled with cnidocytes (nematocysts), indicating that it likely belonged to the cnidarians, a group that includes corals and sea anemones.
Further research by National Institute of Systematics Research scientist Abigail Left identified the cells as spirocysts, unique to the Hexacoralia subgroup of cnidarians. Scientists also compared the specimen to a similar object collected during a 2021 expedition aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor and found matching cellular structures.
Genetic evidence supports the answer
Initial DNA barcoding attempts did not yield clear results, likely because the samples contained genetic material from other microorganisms. To get a more definitive answer, the research team turned to whole-genome sequencing.
This more detailed analysis confirmed the presence of animal DNA and revealed a strong genetic match with giant deep-sea sea anemones. Relicanthus daphnia. Sequencing of the mitochondrial genomes from both specimens showed that they are nearly identical to known reference genomes of this species.
What was the true nature of the Golden Orb?
Putting all the evidence together, scientists concluded that the “golden sphere” was not an egg, a cavernous body, or an unknown organism. It was the remains of a deep-sea anemone, specifically the base that once attached the anemone to the ocean floor.
Although this discovery answers questions about the true nature of the sphere, it also highlights how much remains unknown about deep-sea life.
The deep sea still has many mysteries
“Deep-sea exploration often uncovers fascinating mysteries, like the ‘golden sphere,'” said Capt. William Morwitt, NOAA’s acting director of ocean exploration. “With advanced technologies like DNA sequencing, we can solve more and more of them.” “This is why we keep exploring: to unlock the secrets of the deep sea and better understand how the ocean and its resources can drive economic growth, strengthen national security, and sustain our planet.”
Even if this mystery is solved, scientists emphasize that the deep sea remains one of the least understood environments on Earth, still waiting to be discovered.
