Scientists Say Ocean Exploration Relies Too Much on Cameras in Dark Waters

Ocean scientists have been using the wrong tools to explore the deep sea, according to a new argument about underwater research methods. The deep ocean is pitch black, making cameras nearly useless for discovery.

The ocean covers 71% of Earth's surface, but we've only explored about 5% of it. Most of that unexplored area is in the deep sea, where no sunlight reaches.

Researchers keep sending expensive camera equipment to these dark depths, but they're missing what the ocean has been telling us all along. The argument suggests that sound, vibrations, and other signals could be better ways to understand what's happening thousands of feet below the surface.

This debate comes as countries race to explore the ocean for new resources and scientific discoveries. The deep sea holds clues about climate change, new medicines, and unknown species.