They analyze a mysterious “golden egg” discovered in the depths of the ocean in Alaska

Scientists are carrying out genetic analyzes of a mysterious “golden egg” found in the depths of the Pacific Ocean off the southern coast of Alaska (USA) and whose origin is unknown.

The discovery occurred about 3,200 meters deep on the side of an extinct underwater volcano during the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Seascape Alaska expedition.

”The golden sphere, probably the shell of an egg, excited the imagination of many observers”NOAA indicated in a message on the social network X.

While scientists study the object’s deoxyribonucleic acid, observers following the exploration online have joked that it could be an alien egg or a chocolate candy wrapper.

Jon Copley, professor of Ocean Exploration and Sciences at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, told The Washington Post that “at first glance it is possibly the eggshell of an invertebrate animal or, perhaps, a sponge a little battered.”

Exploration of the area is carried out with NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer, a remotely operated submarine, and consists of surveying the seabed with descents of up to 6,000 meters from the ocean surface.

Underwater forays allow scientists to study ocean life in the deep sea, analyze water currents, and expand knowledge of past and potential changes in the environment.

The team operating the submarine observed a crack in the golden sphere and after contact with the ship’s robotic arms indicated that the object was delicate to the touch and used a suction tool to pick it up.

NOAA distributed photographs showing the object as it was spotted on a rock, and others showing it on the palm of a researcher’s hand.

”Without a detailed examination and analysis of the specimen obtained we do not know what this strange object is”Daniel Jones, from the National Oceanography Center in the United Kingdom, told the newspaper.

“But the object highlights the diversity of life deep in the world’s oceans that remains unknown, and the importance of scientific exploration.”he added.