The ocean is a bewildering and strange place. As time passes by, we discover more and more things about it and inside of it. The following seven things are the strangest things we know about the ocean, which will leave you baffled:
The Antikythera Mechanism
This unusual artifact, displayed at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, at first glance, looks like a rock covered with mould. However, it is actually an ancient Greek analogue computer.
This instrument was discovered in 1902 by Greek divers who recovered it from the wreckage that took place off the coast of Antikythera- the Greek island. The instrument, as predicted by historians, was developed by Greek scientists, between 205 BC and 100 BC, to help in the study of astrology. It was also used as a way to keep track of the Olympiad game cycles.
A reservoir for the ocean
Ever wonder why the water in the ocean never ends or where the water comes from?
Consider the mystery solved. Scientists have proven that the earth’s mantle has enough water (three times more than in the oceans currently) trapped in it, that it can fill our oceans countless times. This water is hidden between a layer of rock called ringwoodite (found in the transition zone), which is 700 km underneath the earth’s core.
This impressive reservoir is even more fascinating because the water trapped in it is not in solid, liquid or gaseous form, but in the form of hydroxide ions.
Knowing that we have a natural reservoir that keeps refilling our seas and oceans is mind blowing and proves that nature is truly divine.
Underwater River?
Mexico’s Cenote Angelita cave has a river flowing through it. Divers have taken pictures which validate this claim. However, pictures are an illusion.
From the surface, it may seem that another water body lies inside the ocean, but as one goes deeper into the ocean, another mystery unravels.
The underwater river is actually a layer of hydrogen sulphate, which is formed because of the combination of salt and fresh water.
Microbes buried for 86 million years
In 2012, a Danish microbiologist, Hans Roy, decided to study the microbes in their natural habitat. He found a colony of microbes underneath the Pacific Ocean- 92 feet below the floor.
Microbes find it impossible to survive more than 28 meters below the surface because of a lack of nutrients and oxygen. However, this colony of microbes has managed to sustain itself for the last 70-80 million years despite being buried underground.
This finding is mind boggling, but also very useful as it makes us think about life on other planets and the ways in which life there might be sustaining itself, despite certain conditions.
Metal balls
In January 2015, a German scientist while exploring the tropical Atlantic found that his equipment- to collect biological samples- could not move. On retrieving his equipment, he found weird metal orbs, which were heavy and thick, attached to it.
The balls did not surprise the scientist as they are commonly found in deep water. What amazed him though was the sheer size and number of the manganese nodules. This was the largest deposit of metal balls ever discovered by mankind.
Colin Devey, the lead scientist in this expedition, said: “Manganese nodules are found in all oceans…Nodules of this size and density in the Atlantic are not known,”
The lost Indian city
In 2004, fishermen, near the South Indian coast of Mahabalipuram, claimed to see ancient temples when the water receded 500 meters before the deadly tsunami hit the shore.
No one believed these men as what they saw disappeared once the water reached its normal level. Later, divers confirmed these stories when they discovered several artifacts and temples under water.
The most interesting findings were the small cluster of boulders that were brought on the shore by the tsunami. These included carved objects with animal faces, gods and servant girls.
The lost civilization
A Canadian company, Advanced Digital Communication, while exploring the Cuban waters discovered stones that were symmetrical and geometrical. These stones resembled an urban civilization.
The advanced sonar equipment that the company used found that the objects were pyramidal and circular in shape. Further investigations revealed that for the stones to have gone down so deep they must have been built 50,000 years ago.
The underwater city itself was perplexing, but the complex structure of the city is what made this one of the strangest things ever known- how did such an old city design something so technologically advanced? This is not yet known.
So far we have not even explored 10% of our oceans and have already come across several strange and unimaginable things. Imagine all the other things that we can find, as we make more advancement in technology.
