Scientists still stumped by golden orb found on Alaska ocean floor

The discovery was made during the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition

Researchers are still trying to identify a strange, golden, flesh-like object found at the bottom of the sea.

The orb-shaped object was found two miles under water on the ocean floor off the Pacific Coast of Alaska, and appears smooth, round, and with a hole in its centre.

Researches said the object feels like "skin tissue," and are conducting DNA analysis to learn more.

Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — the organisation that discovered the object — theorise it could be a hatched egg of some kind or a previously unknown marine sponge.

On the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, the NOAA said: “Scientists aboard #Okaneos are trying to crack this golden egg mystery! What do you think it could be??

The NOAA found the object with a remote submersible participating in the Seascape Alaska 5 expedition. When researchers first found the object, they used a mechanical arm on the vessel to "tickle" the possible egg, according to The Guardian. They determined the object had a "skin-like" texture.

The researchers decided to investigate further and used a suction mechanism on the craft to collect the object. They have determined that it is biological in nature and that it has a tear in it, but have been able to determine little more than that.

The expedition is scheduled to continue until 15 September, and is being live streamed.