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Article: Undersea Riches.(undersea mining is increasing rapidly, and many are concerned that the ativities will endanger deep sea life)
- Article from:
- Science World
- Article date:
- October 4, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Daylight slowly fades as the tiny submarine descends beneath the Atlantic Ocean. One thousand feet below, the sea is pitch-black. Even with the sub's powerful lights, visibility is a mere 20 feet. Two hours later, Rutgers University marine geologist Peter Rona and his two-man crew settle down on a high mid-Atlantic ridge, one mile below the surface.
The outlandish marine life--giant white clams, mounds of intertwined spaghetti-like worms, and forests of tubular, human-size creatures swaying in the current--fascinates Rona. "It's otherworldly, like nothing I've ever seen before," he says.
But something else captures Rona's attention. Clusters of slender ...