While space exploration has captured global attention since the Soviet era —with the Salyut 1 station orbiting Earth in 1971—, much of the ocean floor remains a mystery. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), around 80% of the seabed remains unmapped and unexplored. Faced with this scenario, China took a bold step by announcing the construction of an underwater laboratory at a depth of 2,000 meters in the South China Sea.
The project, driven by the Deep Sea Research Institute in Guangzhou and described as an “underwater space station,” will house six scientists who will remain submerged for over a month. Its main objective will be to study cold seep ecosystems, rich in methane hydrates, a gas that could become a cleaner energy alternative.
Additionally, the base will explore strategic mineral resources such as cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, essential for the technological and energy industry. However, experts warn about the risks of extracting these elements in such deep areas, where ecosystems are fragile and still poorly understood. To date, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has not established clear regulations on this activity, and various environmental organizations urge to halt exploitation without environmental guarantees.
A novel “underwater space station”
Although China has opened the project to international collaborations, its location generates geopolitical tension. The country claims sovereignty over much of the South Sea, a point of friction with neighboring nations. Critics also warn that the base could strengthen China’s military presence in the region.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, fiber optic connection, and autonomous submersibles, this laboratory marks a new chapter in planet exploration… but from the depths.
They discover a predator that lived hidden among the mountains of China
Among the mountains of China, with an impressive biodiversity and landscapes, they discover a predator that would have been “hidden” for many years.
It is a new species of snake, which appeared in the Yuanyang Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve.
For many centuries, the area of the Asian country has been a refuge for a great variety of animal and plant species. Many mountains still remain unexplored and have few studies conducted.
Source: Xataka.
