Ezequiel Mabragana, Ichthyologist, University of Mar Del Plata: This is amazing for us. We are learning a lot about the organisms¡¯ behavior, where they live, how they interact.
CNN Narrator: A few 4astonishing organisms that the researchers believe to be new to science include a sea cucumber 5dubbed batata, or sweet potato, and...
Johanna Weston, Deep-Sea Ecologist, WHOI: Pycnogonida, which is a sea spider. I had never seen anything like that.
CNN Narrator: But it isn't just the scientists who are excited. The ROV Sebastian's livestream attracted millions of viewers who watched for a 6combined 6.7 million hours.
Johanna Weston: The thing that I would probably say it might be the closest to is the moon landing and how it really 7captivated people's 8engagement, 9awareness, just learning and being able to see the deep ocean.
CNN Narrator: Classrooms, dance clubs were showing the 10livestream to the public during the 20-day 11excursion, which was a collaboration among the Schmidt Ocean Institute and U.S. and Argentinian scientific institutions. One of the species that became a 12viral star was the Hypasteria phrygiana, or Trojan star, which 13found fame on social media for its formations that looked like a butt. Some people on social media said it looked like Patrick Star, the starfish character in the 14animated TV show SpongeBob SquarePants.
Ezequiel Mabragana: We were not expecting this kind of reaction of the public.
CNN Narrator: Before this technology, scientists were only able to study these species by using dead specimens. But now, cameras are giving scientists a new 15glimpse into what these animals look like in real life, including their bright colors. The deep ocean, which includes areas that are deeper than 200 meters, covers more than 60% of the planet. It's also the least understood 16ecosystem on Earth, making 17expeditions like this one 18crucial.
Johanna Weston: I think that what I'm getting is that people do care and they just want to see it. Our deep ocean is for all of us and science is for all of us.
