The ocean has long been a source of mysterious tales, with creatures like the Kraken, said to be so immense they could be mistaken for islands, capturing our imaginations. While these stories might seem like fairy tales, there are indeed giants lurking in the depths of the sea. Thanks to modern technology, we now have video evidence of these elusive creatures.
In a recent expedition off the coast of Japan, I was part of a team of three scientists who successfully captured footage of the giant squid. This journey was inspired by a TED event in 2010 called Mission Blue, held in the Galapagos. During this event, I discussed a novel approach to ocean exploration that focuses on attracting marine life rather than scaring it away. This idea caught the attention of Mike Degree, who suggested applying it to the search for the giant squid, leading to my involvement in the Discovery Channel’s squid summit.
During the summit, I presented a method for observing deep-sea creatures without disturbing them. This approach was based on my experiences from numerous dives, where I noticed that quieter, less intrusive platforms allowed for better observation of marine life. I hypothesized that the noise from traditional exploration vehicles might be deterring many animals.
To test this theory, I recorded the sounds of various underwater vehicles using a hydrophone placed on the ocean floor. The Johnson SeaLink, with its electric thrusters, was notably quiet, while others, like the Tiberon and hydraulic-powered ROVs, were much louder.
For our giant squid expedition, we used a unique camera platform called the Medusa. This device had no thrusters or motors, relying solely on a battery-powered camera and red light, which is invisible to most deep-sea creatures. The Medusa was designed to drift with ocean currents, using an optical lure that mimicked the bioluminescent display of the Atolla jellyfish.
This jellyfish emits light as a defense mechanism, attracting larger predators that might help it escape. Our electronic jellyfish lure worked not because giant squids eat jellyfish, but because it simulated a distress signal, drawing in curious predators.
Our strategy was successful, resulting in six video sightings of the giant squid, a feat previous expeditions had failed to achieve. The first sighting was exhilarating, and subsequent encounters were equally astonishing. The footage revealed the squid approaching the electronic jellyfish and attacking a nearby object, mistaking it for a predator.
In another remarkable moment, footage from the Triton submersible showed the giant squid approaching a bait squid with an attached light. Even when a flashlight was turned on, the squid did not flee, allowing us to capture high-resolution video of this legendary creature. If fully extended, its feeding tentacles would have been as tall as a two-story building.
It’s astounding that such a massive creature remained unfilmed until now. We’ve only explored about 5% of our oceans, leaving countless discoveries waiting to be made. These include fascinating creatures that have evolved over millions of years and potentially beneficial bioactive compounds.
Despite the ocean’s importance, we invest significantly less in its exploration compared to space exploration. We need an organization akin to NASA for ocean exploration to uncover and protect the vital ecosystems that support life on Earth.
Exploration fuels innovation, which in turn drives economic growth. Let’s embark on this journey of discovery, ensuring we do so in a way that respects and preserves marine life. As Mike Degree once said, if you want to see something new, dive into the ocean. His spirit of adventure was with us on this expedition, and he is dearly missed.
Imagine you are part of a team tasked with designing a new device for deep-sea exploration. Consider the challenges faced by traditional exploration vehicles and think about how you can create a quieter, less intrusive platform. Present your design to the class, explaining how it would improve upon existing technology and what unique features it would have to attract marine life.
Using audio clips of different underwater vehicles, analyze the sound profiles and discuss how these might affect marine life. Consider the impact of noise pollution on ocean ecosystems. Work in groups to propose solutions for minimizing noise pollution in ocean exploration.
Based on the Medusa’s electronic jellyfish lure, design a bioluminescent lure that could attract a specific marine creature. Research the creature’s behavior and environment to ensure your lure is effective. Present your design and explain the science behind its functionality.
Engage in a structured debate on the topic: “Should more resources be allocated to ocean exploration rather than space exploration?” Prepare arguments for both sides, considering the potential benefits and challenges of each. Reflect on the current state of exploration and propose a balanced approach.
Plan and document a virtual expedition to explore a specific part of the ocean. Use available online resources to gather data and create a detailed report of your findings. Highlight any unique marine life or geological features you discover and discuss their significance.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music][Applause] The Kraken, a creature so terrifying it was said to devour men, ships, and whales, is so enormous it could be mistaken for an island. When assessing the merits of such tales, it’s wise to remember the old sailor’s saying: the only difference between a fairy tale and a sea story is that a fairy tale begins “once upon a time,” while a sea story begins “this ain’t no fairy tale.”
Nevertheless, there are indeed giants in the ocean, and we now have video proof. For those who saw the Discovery Channel documentary, I was one of the three scientists on this expedition that took place last summer off Japan. I’m the shorter one; the other two are Dr. Simi Kuida and Dr. Steve OA.
I owe my participation in this historic event to Ted. In 2010, there was a TED event called Mission Blue held aboard the Lindblad Explorer in the Galapagos. As part of Sylvia Earle’s TED wish, I spoke about a new way of exploring the ocean—one that focuses on attracting animals instead of scaring them away. Mike Degree was also invited and spoke passionately about his love for the ocean. He discussed applying my approach to the long-standing hunt for the giant squid, which led to my invitation to the squid summit at the Discovery Channel during Shark Week.
I gave a talk on unobtrusive viewing and optical luring of deep-sea squid, emphasizing the importance of using quiet, unobtrusive platforms for exploration. This insight came from hundreds of dives I made, where I noticed more animals while working from a submersible compared to remote-operated vehicles. I suspected that the noise produced by these vehicles might scare away many animals.
To investigate, I set up a hydrophone on the ocean floor and recorded the sounds made by different vehicles. The Johnson SeaLink, which uses electric thrusters, is very quiet. The Tiberon also uses electric-powered thrusters but is slightly noisier. Most deep-diving ROVs use hydraulics, which can be quite loud.
For the deep-sea squid hunt, I proposed using an optical lure attached to a camera platform with no thrusters or motors—just a battery-powered camera. The only illumination would come from red light, which is invisible to most deep-sea animals that primarily see blue light. This camera platform, which we called the Medusa, could be deployed from the ship and would float passively, carried by the currents. The only light visible to the animals would be from the optical lure, designed to imitate the bioluminescent display of the common deep-sea jellyfish, Atola.
This jellyfish produces a bioluminescent display as a defense mechanism when threatened. The electronic jellyfish worked as a lure not because giant squid eat jellyfish, but because it mimicked a distress signal, attracting larger predators that might help the jellyfish escape.
Our approach worked, and we managed to capture six video glimpses of the giant squid, while previous expeditions had failed to capture any. The first sighting triggered wild excitement. We had several appearances, and on the fifth, it truly amazed us.
What wowed me was how it approached the electronic jellyfish and then attacked a large object nearby, mistaking it for a predator. Even more incredible was the footage shot from the Triton submersible. What wasn’t mentioned in the documentary was that the bait squid used had a light attached to it, which likely attracted the giant squid.
The camera’s view under red light showed the giant squid approaching, and when Dr. Kubad turned on the flashlight to see better, the giant squid didn’t flee. This moment brought a creature of legend into high-resolution video, which was breathtaking. If the squid had its feeding tentacles fully extended, it would have been as tall as a two-story house.
How could something so large live in our ocean and remain unfilmed until now? We’ve only explored about 5% of our oceans, and there are great discoveries yet to be made. There are fantastic creatures representing millions of years of evolution and possibly bioactive compounds that could benefit us in unimaginable ways.
Yet, we have spent only a tiny fraction of the money on ocean exploration compared to space exploration. We need a NASA-like organization for ocean exploration to explore and protect our life support systems here on Earth.
Exploration drives innovation, and innovation drives economic growth. So, let’s all go exploring, but let’s do it in a way that doesn’t scare the animals away. As Mike Degree once said, if you want to see something you’ve never seen, get in a sub. He should have been with us for this adventure; we miss him.
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains the essence of the original content.
Ocean – A vast body of saline water that covers approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface and is integral to climate regulation and marine biodiversity. – The ocean plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, absorbing a significant portion of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities.
Squid – A cephalopod mollusk with a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms, known for its ability to expel ink as a defense mechanism. – Researchers study the squid’s nervous system to gain insights into the evolution of complex neural networks in marine animals.
Exploration – The systematic investigation of unknown regions, often involving scientific research to discover new information about the environment and its inhabitants. – Ocean exploration has led to the discovery of hydrothermal vents, which host unique ecosystems reliant on chemosynthesis.
Marine – Relating to the sea or ocean, particularly concerning the organisms and ecosystems found within these aquatic environments. – Marine biology focuses on understanding the interactions between marine organisms and their habitats.
Jellyfish – A gelatinous zooplankton belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, known for its umbrella-shaped bell and tentacles equipped with stinging cells. – The bioluminescent properties of certain jellyfish species have been utilized in genetic research as a marker for gene expression.
Predators – Organisms that hunt and consume other organisms for sustenance, playing a critical role in maintaining ecological balance. – Sharks are apex predators in marine ecosystems, helping to regulate the populations of their prey species.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, including tools and techniques for research and exploration. – Advances in underwater technology have enabled scientists to explore the ocean’s depths with remotely operated vehicles.
Ecosystems – Communities of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, functioning as a unit through nutrient cycles and energy flows. – Coral reefs are among the most diverse marine ecosystems, providing habitat and resources for a multitude of species.
Compounds – Substances formed from two or more elements chemically bonded together, with properties distinct from their constituent elements. – Marine organisms produce a variety of bioactive compounds that have potential applications in medicine and biotechnology.
Depths – The distance measured downward from a surface, often referring to the profound areas of the ocean that are less accessible and studied. – The depths of the ocean remain largely unexplored, with many species yet to be discovered in these remote environments.
