Features

Feeling the heat

Scientists suspect that Pacific white skates are laying their eggs near hydrothermal vents to speed up their otherwise lengthy incubation process.<br />
Photo by Julye Newlin | Ocean Exploration Trust | Nautilus Live Copyright
The remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) Hercules allows scientists to film the sea floor thousands of metres below the surface. Piloted by technicians aboard the research vessel, cameras can more easily venture into habitats that would endanger researchers.<br />
Photo by Julye Newlin | Ocean Exploration Trust | Nautilus Live Copyright
A host of technologies, like ROVs, allow scientists to explore deep-sea habitats. This kind of capacity is vital to monitor changes to life in the deepest reaches. While these parts of the oceans remain relatively unexplored, human exploitation in the form of deep-sea mining and fishing is quickly catching up to even the hardest-to-reach regions.<br />
Photo by Ocean Exploration Trust | Nautilus Live Copyright