Identity of ‘Golden Orb’ found in waters off Alaskan coast revealed

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The identity of the so-called “golden orb” discovered in 2023 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been revealed, according to NOAA.

Scientists have determined the orb isn’t treasure, or an artifact left by aliens, but a remnant of the dead cells that formed at the base of a giant deep-sea anemone — Relicanthus daphneae. It was the part of the anemone that attached to the rock substrate.

Uncovering the mystery was a multi-year effort. The orb was first found on Aug. 30, 2023, when a NOAA remotely operated vehicle, Deep Discoverer, discovered it during an expedition in the Gulf of Alaska, at a depth of about 3,300 meters, or more than 10,800 feet down.

Initial DNA barcoding was inconclusive. Going deeper, whole-genome sequencing confirmed animal DNA and contained a large amount of genetic material from the Relicanthus daphneae. Sequencing the mitochondrial genomes of both specimens confirmed they were genetically almost identical to a known Relicanthus daphneae reference genome.

“This turned into a special case that required focused efforts and expertise of several different individuals,” Allen Collins, NOAA Fisheries’ National Systematics Laboratory director, said. “This was a complex mystery that required morphological, genetic, deep-sea and bioinformatics expertise to solve.”

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