On September 16, 2023, a strange phenomenon occurs when the Earth begins to vibrate at a regular frequency, lasting for 9 days. The sound is emitted from the Earth’s crust and spreads globally, causing alarm on many seismic systems. Scientists initially do not know the cause, only that it is not an earthquake because its frequency is not the same as normal seismic waves.
Meanwhile, in a remote area of East Greenland, a disaster is taking place. A massive landslide occurs in Dixon Fjord, causing a large amount of rock and ice to fall into the sea, creating a tsunami 360 feet (over 100 meters) high. This tsunami is blocked by the surrounding cliffs and creates a repeating sound as the water crashes against the walls of the fjord, causing strong tremors to spread across the Earth.
The tsunami destroys several Inuit relics that have existed for more than 200 years and damages a nearby research station. The earthquake was so powerful that it reached Antarctica in less than an hour, highlighting how vulnerable humans are to natural disasters.
Meanwhile, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, unstable geology has left many homes severely damaged by landslides. The terrain was already unstable due to soft clay and the geological faults, but heavy rains in recent years have made the situation worse. The land has sunk rapidly, many homes have cracked and some have been pulled off their foundations. Local residents have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to reinforce their homes and maintain power from generators.
In addition, areas prone to volcanoes and landslides are found in many other places, including Arizona’s Rocky Mountains, California’s volcanoes, and the Yellowstone Caldera, a giant volcano that could erupt at any time. Many Americans now recognize the potential dangers of geologically unstable areas and have begun to prepare more carefully for possible disasters.
By 2030, ocean exploration aims to protect a larger portion of our oceans, setting aside zones for conservation and research. Recently, scientists discovered an isolated ecosystem beneath the Pacific Northwest, where unique microbes thrive in cracks within oceanic crust. Unlike surface life, these microbes don’t rely on sunlight; they derive energy from chemical reactions with rocks and seawater, a process called chemosynthesis. This environment, possibly Earth’s most extensive ecosystem, exists in conditions where no life was thought possible.
Over the years, scientists uncovered tiny holes in oceanic basalt rock that hinted at microbial life, leading to recent findings of hydrogen-fueled organisms deep in the crust. These microbes convert carbon dioxide to organic matter, fueling other life forms in the ecosystem. While multicellular life may be scarce due to extreme conditions, the discovery challenges ideas about life’s limits on Earth and its potential on other planets.
NASA’s interest in deep-sea exploration complements its search for extraterrestrial life, as these oceanic environments mirror conditions that could exist on other celestial bodies. With only 7% of oceans designated as marine protected areas, much remains uncharted due to the challenging deep-ocean environment. New technologies like satellite tracking and autonomous underwater vehicles aid exploration, but funding constraints and limited data hamper progress.
To calm the waves, people can hang a bag of cod liver oil on the boat so that the oil gradually seeps into the water and smooths the waves. The oil helps reduce the surface tension of the water, preventing the wind from creating waves. Steamships and rescue boats have used this technique since ancient times in bad weather. Scientifically, the thin layer of oil on the water’s surface acts as an invisible membrane that prevents waves from forming. This technique is still used today, such as creating anti-reflective glass on electronic devices.
Next, our planet is shaped like an ellipsoid with slightly flattened poles. In the Indian Ocean, there is an area of weak gravity, called a gravity well, due to the uneven distribution of the Earth’s mass. This area was discovered in 1948, spanning millions of square miles. Scientists believe that magma flows from an ancient ocean played a role in the formation of this gravity well.
Under the sea, much of the volcanic activity takes place in remote areas, such as the largest underwater eruption in 2018, which created a new volcano 1.5 times taller than New York’s Freedom Tower. Research into the formation of diamonds deep in the Earth’s mantle also helps us understand how water from the ocean seeps into the planet’s interior, contributing to the formation of magma and possibly triggering earthquakes.
The Southern Ocean, bordering the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, has a unique ecosystem with species adapted to cold conditions, like leopard seals, orcas, and emperor penguins. Scientists think life may have originated in the ocean about 3.5 billion years ago; fossils resembling microbes found near hydrothermal vents support this. Strange underwater sounds have puzzled researchers, such as the “Upsweep” in the Pacific, possibly caused by volcanic activity, and the mysterious “Bloop,” likely linked to iceberg fracturing. Other notable phenomena include “Julia,” a sound from a grounding iceberg, and “Slowdown,” attributed to shifting ice. The “52 Hz Whale” call remains an enigma, while sounds like “Seneca Guns” and “skyquakes” often shake coastal areas but lack clear origins.
Octopuses also fascinate scientists. A diver in South Africa formed a bond with one, inspiring a documentary. Octopuses occasionally throw objects, potentially as a defense mechanism, though their behavior remains mysterious. Exploring the deep ocean, such as the Mariana Trench, has revealed bizarre creatures, including the Dumbo octopus and goblin shark. Phantom bottoms, or false seafloors, are created by layers of sea creatures moving at night to feed. Our understanding of these phenomena is limited, as conditions in the ocean’s depths remain challenging to explore fully.
Archaeologists recently discovered a 7,000-year-old road under the sea near Croatia, at a Neolithic site called Soine, which was once a man-made island. They found stone walls and structures beneath the Adriatic Sea, preserved due to the surrounding islands that shielded it from big waves. In another part of the Pacific, scientists identified over 30 new species using remote-controlled vehicles, including rare worms and corals.
The Earth’s crust also holds remnants of ancient, explosive space events, like plutonium and iron particles, formed in star explosions and collisions. On land, simultaneous volcanic eruptions could have catastrophic consequences, covering the planet in ash and lowering temperatures, though scientists believe a global eruption is unlikely.
In Antarctica, researchers recently found over 130 volcanoes beneath the ice sheet, with only two confirmed active. A potential eruption from supervolcanoes like Yellowstone could have severe impacts, spreading ash and affecting global climates, though current monitoring shows no immediate threat.
