US government researchers say they’ve finally identified the unusual “golden orb” discovered on the seafloor.
The object was first noticed in 2023 by NOAA’s Ocean Exploration team while surveying more than two miles down, and it immediately puzzled everyone watching the feed.
In the recorded footage, a member of the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition quipped, ‘I’m pretty sure this is how the first episode of the X-Files started’, while another added ‘it’s like the beginning of a horror movie’.
After images of the find in the Gulf of Alaska spread online, speculation took off—especially because the orb was located far below the zone where sunlight reaches.
Now, after years of investigation and follow-up lab work, scientists say they have a strong explanation for what the mysterious sphere actually was.
Researchers believe the orb is linked to a deep-sea anemone species known as Relicanthus daphneae.
A paper with the memorable title The Curious Case of the Golden Orb lays out the findings, arguing that the structure likely came from a buildup of dead cells that can form at the base of this type of anemone.
Because these animals typically fasten themselves to rocks or other hard surfaces, the team suspects the orb was the portion that once helped anchor the anemone to the seafloor.
NOAA said: “During NOAA Ocean Exploration expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, it’s common for scientists to find organisms they don’t immediately recognise.
“Most of the time, these mysteries are solved quickly as members of the scientific community chat and pool their knowledge. However, some discoveries turn into real puzzles — like in the case of the ‘golden orb’.”
It added: “Identifying the ‘golden orb’ was a multi-year, complex effort. In a world accustomed to instant gratification, waiting for scientific research to provide answers can be frustrating. But science takes time.”
So what finally moved the case forward?
The team carried out advanced genetic testing on the material they managed to recover, including full genome sequencing of the collected samples.
They also sequenced the mitochondrial genomes—mitochondria are often described as the powerhouse of the cell—and those results came back as a near match to Relicanthus daphneae.
NOAA said: “Mystery solved: The “golden orb” is not an egg, a sponge, or remnants of a space alien, but a relic of a deep-sea anemone. While this discovery confirms the identity of the previously unknown specimen, the Earth’s deep ocean still holds many secrets.”