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A mysterious golden orb, discovered on 30 August on the sea floor, has puzzled scientists.
Tests are still under way to determine the object’s origin.
Marine researchers on board a vessel operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US discovered the egg, or whatever it may be, off the coast of Alaska.
The crew posted a photo from a live video of its deep dive to social media, admitting they can’t identify where it originated from.
“This golden orb, likely an egg casing, struck an imaginative chord for many watching yesterday,” the NOAA wrote.
The image shows a round, sponge-like mass with a hole in it.
One of the researchers on board reportedly said during the video that “something tried to get in… or get out.”
According to the NOAA, the “glittering gold blob” is “as-of-yet unidentified.”
It’s prompted varied reaction across social media – with one person quipping: “Not now, golden orb found on ocean floor.”
The NOAA is currently in the throes of a five-month mission to explore the depths of the sea near Alaska.
The 48-strong crew is equipped with tools to peer deep into the ocean – and gather data that’s shared in real time with researchers back on dry land.
Researchers aboard the Okeanos Explorer are busy mapping and collecting samples along the Aleutian Trench and Gulf of Alaska using cameras that can operate as far down as 6,000m deep.
“We’re also going to be looking through the water column to see what interesting animals and fauna that we can see there,” Ms Hoy said ahead of the mission.
