December 10, 2024

Brighton Journal

Complete News World

Scientists have discovered that the ancient underwater volcano is still active – and covered in up to a million giant eggs

Scientists have discovered that the ancient underwater volcano is still active – and covered in up to a million giant eggs

The top of the seamount was covered with thousands of giant egg ravioli. (Image credit: NEPDEP 2023)

Researchers exploring an ancient underwater volcano off the Pacific coast of Canada have discovered that it is still active — and “covered” with thousands of giant eggs.

Before the expedition, the team thought the volcano was extinct and the waters around it were frozen. However, they found the underwater mountain — 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) above the sea floor — spouting warm, coral-covered waters into the deep sea. The hot, mineral-rich liquid keeps the surrounding waters warm, providing ideal conditions for some marine creatures to survive in the deep sea. The researchers were most surprised to see white skates from the Pacific Ocean (Bathiraja spinocissima) weaving in and out of the fronds and laying eggs on top, about a mile (1.5 km) below the surface.