Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), collaborating with colleagues from several American universities, have finally determined the identity of the object they recovered off the coast of Alaska in late summer 2023.
The item, situated at a depth of 3,250 meters, was impossible to ignore—a smooth, spherical object resembling an egg, appearing almost gilded, gleamed under the spotlight. It was discovered by the remotely operated deep-sea vehicle Deep Discoverer, which was tasked with surveying the slope of an underwater volcano. The vehicle’s onboard camera recorded the seafloor scenery, a process streamed live to numerous viewers observing the events unfold.
The vehicle approached quite closely. Up close, it became apparent that the “shell” featured an irregularly edged opening—as if something had emerged from it. Bystanders—members of the anomaly enthusiast community watching the broadcast—immediately speculated that some extraterrestrial entity, perhaps akin to those Lieutenant Ellen Louise Ripley couldn’t eradicate in Ridley Scott’s “Alien” film series, might have hatched from the “egg.”
Surprisingly, even members of the expedition crew likened the object to the cinematic “Alien” eggs—those from which menacing hatchlings leaped out to latch onto the faces of anyone approaching. Although the scientists pretended it was lighthearted banter, they were hesitant to touch the “egg” found on the seabed.
The find was brought aboard the expedition vessel Okeanos Explorer, secured by a vacuum hose held by the robot’s manipulator arm. Measuring slightly over 10 centimeters, the “egg” initially appeared to be a biological specimen, possibly an as-yet-unknown marine creature. Nonetheless, no one could definitively identify it.
Raising the “egg” to the surface. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA)
The Anemone Posed the Riddle
Ultimately, the discovery was transported to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where the “egg” underwent comprehensive examination using all available methods. Initially, analyses confirmed that anatomically, it shared no kinship with animals or with eggs; meaning, this “something” was neither one nor the other. Scientists have encountered many oddities, but this was different.
“We’ve dealt with hundreds of diverse samples,” stated lead researcher Dr. Allen Collins, a zoologist and Director of the NOAA Fisheries’ National Systematics Laboratory. “But this stumped us. Clarifying the enigma quickly wasn’t possible. It necessitated morphological and genetic assessments, coupled with expertise in deep-sea research and bioinformatics.”
The “egg” in researchers’ hands—they eventually dared to handle it. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA)
Under magnification, it was possible to discern that the “egg’s” casing was soft, layered, and fibrous—covered with cells highly similar to those found on corals and sea anemones.
“Egg” tissue under the microscope. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA)
Further elucidation came from genetic analysis. Genome sequencing revealed that the DNA within the “egg” was predominantly that of a giant anemone—a deep-sea organism that can reach 2 meters in length and is equipped with stinging tentacles used to ensnare passing microscopic debris.
The researchers concluded that the “egg” is actually what is known as a cuticle—the posterior section of a giant anemone that has detached from its base. This tissue sac, now deceased, served as an anchor point to the seafloor. The anemone itself likely perished. During its life, it might have belonged to the species Relicanthus daphneae, which inhabits the eastern Pacific Ocean.
A giant anemone—similar to the one that “laid” the egg. The object is to the right of the tentacles. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA)
The American scientists’ report did not elaborate on how the “egg” acquired its “golden” appearance. This specific question, without delving into the object’s origin, was addressed three years prior by a Russian scientist, Dr. Andrey Zhuravlev, Doctor of Biological Sciences and Professor at Moscow State University. In a conversation with KP.RU, he hypothesized that the golden luster was imparted by pyrite or greigite—iron sulfides that possess a golden sheen. These minerals are abundant in the water near volcanoes where hydrogen sulfide and dissolved iron are plentiful.
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