Scientists have now made the most comprehensive tally yet of deep-sea exploration — 43,681 dive records dating back to 1958 — and found that humans have directly seen less than 0.001% of the deep ocea
A new study reveals that humans have visually explored less than 0.001% of the deep ocean floor since 1958. Despite advancements in technology, our direct visual understanding of the seafloor remains extremely limited compared to the vastness of the deep ocean.
Why it matters
Understanding the deep ocean is critical for biodiversity conservation and climate science, yet the vast majority of this ecosystem remains a mystery.
Humanity has sent cameras to the Moon, Mars, Venus and the outer planets, but on Earth itself there is still a larger frontier that has barely been looked at directly.
The article reports on scientific findings without political or social agenda.
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