Russia discovered new life in the Far East Sea

Experts from the Institute of Marine Biology (of the Russian Academy of Sciences) recently found hundreds of species of living creatures that science had never known in the Far East Sea. According to preliminary estimates, more than half of them are biologically active and can be a promising resource for making new drugs.

Viktor Ivin, deputy director of the institute, said 'New life' was found in two expeditions - in the Japanese sea, below 3 km deep and in the area still known as Kuril underground tunnel - Kamchatka , below the depth of 5.5km. Scientists from the Far East Institute of Marine Biology have discovered things that had never been known before. According to him, the success of these expeditions is largely due to the use of new ways of conducting research.

A corner of Far East waters, Russia.(Photo: RIA Novosti)

'How did research work in the past? Release the sweeping net, collect some mud from the bottom. Then put it all on the water. What happens to living organisms when dragged by a few kilometers on the mud surface? Many of them are damaged. Now, we can see these organisms in natural habitats. For us this is an important issue , 'Ivan said.

According to the new method described by Mr. Ivin, a video camera mounted on a special trawl allows observing the life of undersea creatures in their environment. In addition, with the help of modern aquatic biology equipment on the research vessel, experts brought 700 species of deep-sea animals to the shore to study, about half of which have never been known. Even with some experts, the results from such nets are a big surprise.

There has been a perception that deep water cannot exist as such biodiversity. Now, scientists are working hard to study strange sea creatures. It is very likely that many of them will be an abundant source of new drugs, Ivin added.

According to oceanographic expert, deep-sea waters are a huge reserve for all future generations. Our understanding of the living environment in the ocean is still very small. We have now discovered unique information about "residents" living in the Far East waters.