Imagine that you are in a submarine, at the bottom of the ocean, a depth of 1.6 miles. Suddenly, you see a large hole, which is several miles deep. No, this is not a Sci-Fi movie. These holes in the ocean floor that were first discovered 18 years ago have unknown origins. Now, scientists are asking the public for their opinion.
Almost two decades ago, along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, scientists discovered these openings in the seabed, and up until today, they do not have a clear explanation as to why the holes form. It started when a group of sea explorers were using a remotely controlled vehicle to observe unexplored areas on July 23rd.
The dive covered an area near Portugal’s mainland, towards the north of the Azores. They uncovered about a dozen sets of holes positioned like a track. A week after the expedition, four more sightings were found and located, but this time on the Azores Plateau, which is both under water, and where three tectonic plates meet. These were located about three hundred miles away from the initial expedition.
So far, scientists do not know what the holes are or, where they came from, but they have a couple of guesses about what could have caused the formations. One speculation is that they were caused by living organisms, who over time, made impressions in the sediment, causing the hole to appear. In a public Tweet, the scientists from the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration said, “The origin of the holes has scientists stumped,” NOAA said.
“The holes look human made, but the little piles of sediment around them suggest that they were excavated by… something.”
After the post by NOAA, they received dozens of answers, like ‘Are the holes synthetic?’ ‘An extraterrestrial cave, or sign?’ ‘Tracks from a submarine?’ ‘Could they be the breathing holes of a “deep-sea creature that buries itself under the sand”? The last guess is not too far-fetched. A paper by Michael Vecchione and his co-author, Odd Aksel Bergstad, suggested two most probable answers for the holes. They speculated that the holes came from marine life, walking or swimming above the seabed and puncturing it, or burrowing in the sediment and poking holes from under.
The holes from the second expedition seemed to be poked from underneath, Vecchione said.
After the past expeditions, NOAA announced that a third expedition will begin on August 7, and will be livestreamed, and we will get a glimpse of the mysterious holes ourselves.
Almost two decades ago, along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, scientists discovered these openings in the seabed, and up until today, they do not have a clear explanation as to why the holes form. It started when a group of sea explorers were using a remotely controlled vehicle to observe unexplored areas on July 23rd.
The dive covered an area near Portugal’s mainland, towards the north of the Azores. They uncovered about a dozen sets of holes positioned like a track. A week after the expedition, four more sightings were found and located, but this time on the Azores Plateau, which is both under water, and where three tectonic plates meet. These were located about three hundred miles away from the initial expedition.
So far, scientists do not know what the holes are or, where they came from, but they have a couple of guesses about what could have caused the formations. One speculation is that they were caused by living organisms, who over time, made impressions in the sediment, causing the hole to appear. In a public Tweet, the scientists from the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration said, “The origin of the holes has scientists stumped,” NOAA said.
“The holes look human made, but the little piles of sediment around them suggest that they were excavated by… something.”
After the post by NOAA, they received dozens of answers, like ‘Are the holes synthetic?’ ‘An extraterrestrial cave, or sign?’ ‘Tracks from a submarine?’ ‘Could they be the breathing holes of a “deep-sea creature that buries itself under the sand”? The last guess is not too far-fetched. A paper by Michael Vecchione and his co-author, Odd Aksel Bergstad, suggested two most probable answers for the holes. They speculated that the holes came from marine life, walking or swimming above the seabed and puncturing it, or burrowing in the sediment and poking holes from under.
The holes from the second expedition seemed to be poked from underneath, Vecchione said.
After the past expeditions, NOAA announced that a third expedition will begin on August 7, and will be livestreamed, and we will get a glimpse of the mysterious holes ourselves.
