• Humans have visually explored only 0.001% of the deep seafloor, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, according to a new study.
• The study highlights a significant bias in exploration efforts, with most observations concentrated near the United States, Japan, and New Zealand.
• Experts emphasize the need for further research before engaging in activities like deep-sea mining due to the limited understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and their importance to the global climate.

A recent study has revealed the surprisingly small extent to which humans have explored the deep seafloor. Published in Science Advances, the study indicates that only 0.001% of the deep seafloor has been visually documented, an area comparable to the size of Rhode Island. This limited exploration raises concerns, especially considering the increasing interest in activities like deep-sea mining and the vital role the deep sea plays in climate regulation. The research underscores the urgent need for increased exploration and understanding of this vast and largely unknown ecosystem.

• What: A new study reveals that humans have visually documented only 0.001% of the deep seafloor.
• Who: Katy Croff Bell (Ocean Discovery League) led the study, with contributions from various researchers and organizations like the National Geographic Society.
• When: The study was published in May 2025 in Science Advances. Visual documentation included in the study began in 1958.
• Where: The deep sea, defined as the part of the ocean below 200 meters. Exploratory expeditions have been concentrated near the United States, Japan, and New Zealand.

The extremely limited exploration of the deep seafloor, as highlighted by the study, raises significant concerns about potential impacts from human activities, particularly deep-sea mining. The concentration of exploration efforts in specific regions further skews our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems globally. The study underscores the importance of investing in low-cost technologies to expand exploration efforts and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the deep sea's role in climate regulation and biodiversity before engaging in potentially harmful extractive practices.

You can just imagine what’s in the rest of the 99.999 percent.

If all of that had stayed into the atmosphere, it would make life on Earth practically impossible.

Almost every time we go there, we learn something new and exciting, and many of our discoveries on the seafloor have been serendipitous. So, you know, we're feeling our way in the dark, literally, there.

The recent study emphasizing the minimal exploration of the deep seafloor serves as a critical reminder of how much remains unknown about this vast ecosystem. With increasing pressure to exploit deep-sea resources, the need for further research and a comprehensive understanding of the deep sea's role in climate regulation and biodiversity is paramount. International cooperation and investment in low-cost exploration technologies are essential to ensure responsible stewardship of this vital environment.