Trending Now - Golden Orb Found in Alaskan Waters Identified After Two Years

WHO:

Yahoo - Sam Candio, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), commented on the discovery.

Gizmodo - Allen Collins, zoologist and director of NOAA Fisheries’ National Systematics Laboratory, discussed the identification process.

Yahoo - Capt. William Mowitt, acting director of NOAA Ocean Exploration, spoke about the importance of deep-ocean exploration.

WHAT:

Yahoo - A golden orb, approximately 4 inches in size, was identified as a remnant of the dead cells from a giant deep-sea anemone known as Relicanthus daphneae.

Gizmodo - The orb was discovered during an expedition and was initially thought to be an egg casing, a dead sea sponge, or an unidentified type of coral.

Gizmodo - The orb was collected using a suction sampler and sent to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History for examination.

WHERE:

Yahoo - The golden orb was found on the ocean floor off Alaska’s Pacific Coast.

Gizmodo - The orb was discovered in the Gulf of Alaska at a depth of 10,827 feet (3,300 meters).

WHEN:

Yahoo - The orb was discovered on August 30th, 2023, during a three-week voyage by NOAA Ocean Exploration.

Yahoo - The identification of the orb was confirmed in April 2026, after nearly three years of research.

WHY:

Yahoo - The discovery highlights the ongoing mysteries of the deep ocean and the need for continued exploration to understand ocean resources and their potential benefits.

HOW:

Yahoo - Researchers analyzed the orb’s physical structure and DNA, requiring expertise in morphology, genetics, deep-sea biology, and bioinformatics.

Gizmodo - Initial testing found the orb was made of a fibrous material with a layered surface filled with cnidocytes, which are stinging cells found in jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones.

(UPDATED April 24, 2026 23:14 UTC)

A golden orb, measuring about four inches, has been identified as a remnant of dead cells from a giant deep-sea anemone known as Relicanthus daphneae, discovered August 30thth, 2023, during a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition in the Gulf of Alaska. The orb, initially mistaken for an egg casing or a dead sea sponge, was collected at a depth of 10,827 feet and has undergone nearly three years of research, with its identification confirmed in on Monday26. Scientists, including Sam Candio and Allen Collins from NOAA, emphasized the importance of this discovery in highlighting the mysteries of the deep ocean and the need for ongoing exploration to better understand ocean resources.