The deep sea is one of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet, and its resources have emerged as a new frontier for scientific discoveries. New species are being discovered in the deep, such as the sponge Advhena magnifica (Latin for “magnificent alien”) recently discovered 2000 meters below in the Pacific.

 

New sponge discoveries could push the medical field forward - Petrosia contignata, also discovered in the Pacific, creates a substance called contignasterol, which is a potential treatment for asthma.