Dive into the Depths: Discovering the Untold Secrets of the Ocean

Tue Oct 21 2025 11:01:57 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A new study reveals humans have explored only a tiny fraction of the deep seafloor, sparking excitement for future underwater discoveries.

With just 0.001% of the deep seafloor explored, scientists stress the importance of further research to make informed decisions about ocean mining, while igniting curiosity about the unexplored 99.999% of the underwater world.

Did you know that humans have only visually documented around 1,470 square miles of the deep seafloor? That's less than 0.001% of its total area, equating to a space slightly larger than Rhode Island! A recent study published in the journal Science Advances has brought this staggering fact to light as nations consider industrial mining of the seabed for vital minerals.

Lead researcher and marine biologist Katy Croff Bell, who heads the Ocean Discovery League, emphasizes the need for more exploration before diving into extractive activities. "More information helps us make informed decisions," she explains, underlining that understanding the deep sea is crucial to grasping how climate change and human activities impact our oceans.

The excitement of exploration fuels many marine scientists. Bell enthuses, “Just imagine what lies in the 99.999% of the ocean we haven’t seen yet!” Since the first visual documentation began with submersibles like the Trieste in 1958, researchers have been uncovering new organisms and understanding their interactions within their ecosystems. The potential for discovery in the deep sea is limitless!