{"id":1870,"date":"2026-06-12T14:59:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T14:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1870"},"modified":"2026-06-17T15:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:00:22","slug":"the-mysterious-midwater-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=1870","title":{"rendered":"The Mysterious Midwater Society"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\n#foogallery-gallery-1874 .fg-image { width: 1200px; }<\/style>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"foogallery foogallery-container foogallery-carousel foogallery-lightbox-foogallery fg-carousel fg-ready fg-light fg-border-medium fg-round-small fg-shadow-medium fg-loading-default fg-loaded-fade-in fg-hover-semi-zoomed fg-caption-always fg-hover-fade fg-hover-circle-plus2\" id=\"foogallery-gallery-1874\" data-foogallery=\"{&quot;item&quot;:{&quot;showCaptionTitle&quot;:true,&quot;showCaptionDescription&quot;:true},&quot;lazy&quot;:true,&quot;template&quot;:{&quot;maxItems&quot;:5,&quot;scale&quot;:0.12,&quot;gutter&quot;:{&quot;min&quot;:-40,&quot;max&quot;:-20,&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;},&quot;autoplay&quot;:{&quot;time&quot;:0,&quot;interaction&quot;:&quot;pause&quot;},&quot;centerOnClick&quot;:true}}\" data-foogallery-lightbox=\"{&quot;thumbs&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;thumbsCaptions&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsBestFit&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsSmall&quot;:false,&quot;thumbsCaptionsAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;info&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;infoVisible&quot;:true,&quot;infoOverlay&quot;:true,&quot;infoAlign&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;hoverButtons&quot;:false,&quot;fitMedia&quot;:false,&quot;noScrollbars&quot;:true,&quot;preserveButtonSpace&quot;:true,&quot;buttons&quot;:{&quot;fullscreen&quot;:true,&quot;info&quot;:true,&quot;thumbs&quot;:false},&quot;video&quot;:{&quot;autoPlay&quot;:true}}\" style=\"--fg-title-line-clamp: 1; --fg-description-line-clamp: 2;\" >\n\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"fg-carousel-prev\" title=\"Previous\"><\/button>\n\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-center\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/John-burns-Sample.png\" data-caption-title=\"One of the expedition\u2019s lead scientists John Burns examines a sample to be used for his genetic sequencing work. (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" data-attachment-id=\"1871\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"One of the expedition\u2019s lead scientists John Burns examines a sample to be used for his genetic sequencing work. (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/John-burns-Sample.png\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%221200%22%20height%3D%22800%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-title\">One of the expedition\u2019s lead scientists John Burns examines a sample to be used for his genetic sequencing work. (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Jelly-from-midocean.png\" data-caption-title=\"A jelly collected at 1,157 meters depth. (Credit: Emily Clark \/ MBARI).\" data-attachment-id=\"1872\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A jelly collected at 1,157 meters depth. (Credit: Emily Clark \/ MBARI).\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Jelly-from-midocean.png\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%221200%22%20height%3D%22800%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-title\">A jelly collected at 1,157 meters depth. (Credit: Emily Clark \/ MBARI).<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/New-Species-gossamer-worms.png\" data-caption-title=\"A new species from the genus Tomopteris, commonly known as gossamer worms. (Credit: Remotely Operated Vehicle SuBastian \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" data-attachment-id=\"1875\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"A new species from the genus Tomopteris, commonly known as gossamer worms. (Credit: Remotely Operated Vehicle SuBastian \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/New-Species-gossamer-worms.png\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%221200%22%20height%3D%22800%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-title\">A new species from the genus Tomopteris, commonly known as gossamer worms. (Credit: Remotely Operated Vehicle SuBastian \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dr.-Silvina-Botta-isotope-analysis.png\" data-caption-title=\"Dr. Silvina Botta (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande in Brazil) retrieves water samples from ROV SuBastian for stable isotope analysis \u2014 a chemical way to study how carbon moves through the ocean (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" data-attachment-id=\"1876\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Dr. Silvina Botta (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande in Brazil) retrieves water samples from ROV SuBastian for stable isotope analysis \u2014 a chemical way to study how carbon moves through the ocean (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Dr.-Silvina-Botta-isotope-analysis.png\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%221200%22%20height%3D%22800%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-title\">Dr. Silvina Botta (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande in Brazil) retrieves water samples from ROV SuBastian for stable isotope analysis \u2014 a chemical way to study how carbon moves through the ocean (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fg-item fg-type-image fg-idle\"><figure class=\"fg-item-inner\"><a href=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-08-3.png\" data-caption-title=\"ROV SuBastian is deployed from the research vessel Falkor (too) for a research dive in the South Atlantic during the expedition (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" data-attachment-id=\"1877\" data-type=\"image\" class=\"fg-thumb\"><span class=\"fg-image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"ROV SuBastian is deployed from the research vessel Falkor (too) for a research dive in the South Atlantic during the expedition (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" class=\"skip-lazy fg-image\" data-src-fg=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2026-06-08-3.png\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20width%3D%221200%22%20height%3D%22800%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201200%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" loading=\"eager\"><\/span><span class=\"fg-image-overlay\"><\/span><\/a><figcaption class=\"fg-caption\"><div class=\"fg-caption-inner\"><div class=\"fg-caption-title\">ROV SuBastian is deployed from the research vessel Falkor (too) for a research dive in the South Atlantic during the expedition (Credit: Alex Ingle \/ Schmidt Ocean Institute).<\/div><\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"fg-loader\"><\/div><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-bottom\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"fg-carousel-progress\"><\/div>\n\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"fg-carousel-next\" title=\"Next\"><\/button>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2c90304e wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An international research team, including two researchers from&nbsp;<strong>Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences<\/strong>, discovered <strong>31 new marine species <\/strong>over two weeks off the coast of Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senior research scientists <strong>John Burns <\/strong>and <strong>David Fields<\/strong> worked aboard&nbsp;Schmidt Ocean Institute\u2019s research vessel <em>Falkor<\/em> (<em>too<\/em>). They used novel technologies to explore the <strong>midwater<\/strong> \u2014 the space between the sunlit layer and the seafloor \u2014 Earth\u2019s <strong>largest and least explored <\/strong>habitable ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to hear what it was like working on a state-of-the-art research vessel in the South Atlantic Ocean, and how a jar of turmeric became an unexpected hero?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Join John for a <strong>Caf\u00e9 Sci<\/strong> talk on <strong>Aug. 5 i<\/strong>n East Boothbay or online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-50\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bigelow.org\/news\/cafe-sci\/new-era-of-discovery\">Register for John&#8217;s Caf\u00e9 Sci<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-50\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bigelow.org\/news\/articles\/2026-06-08.html\">Read More About the Research<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An international research team, including two researchers from&nbsp;Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, discovered 31 new marine species over two weeks off the coast of Brazil. Senior research scientists John Burns and David Fields worked aboard&nbsp;Schmidt Ocean Institute\u2019s research vessel Falkor (too). They used novel technologies to explore the midwater \u2014 the space between the sunlit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","css_class_manager_body_classes":"","css_class_manager_use_in_post_loop":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[57,67,52,42],"class_list":["post-1870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-ocean-function","tag-david-fields","tag-discovery","tag-john-burns","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1870"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1880,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870\/revisions\/1880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}