Podcast Summary
Deep Sea Exploration: Deep sea exploration is essential for understanding our world and maintaining a connection to our humanity, despite the extreme challenges and unknowns.
While the internet may be filled with new cultural languages and trends like "brain rot," it's important to remember the humanity and individuality that exists, even in difficult and complex situations. Meanwhile, in the physical world, there's still so much to learn and discover, such as the depths of the ocean, which remain largely unexplored. For example, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the planet, and only a few people, like marine biologist Nicole Yamase, have had the chance to explore it. The journey down to the deep sea floor is a technological marvel, with extreme pressure and harsh terrain making it more challenging than space travel. Despite the unknowns, exploration and discovery are essential for understanding our world and maintaining a connection to our humanity.
Deep-sea organisms' energy source: Organic material falling from the ocean surface, known as marine snow, provides energy to deep-sea organisms in the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean.
The depths of the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, are a connected part of the ocean ecosystem, despite their extreme isolation. The speaker, a marine biologist, described his experience of descending to the Challenger Deep with his pilot, Victor, and their discovery of marine snow, or organic material falling from the surface, providing energy to deep-sea organisms. The speaker was also moved by the feeling of being a tiny dot in the vastness of the ocean and the significance of being the first Pacific Islander to explore this depth. He collected sediment samples to analyze and discovered that macroalgae or marine plants could be a source of energy for deep-sea life. The speaker's father's canoe, which represented Micronesia, Pacific Islander heritage, and navigation, was a reminder that this expedition was not just a personal accomplishment but a shared one.
Exploration and Discovery: Exploring the depths of the ocean and discovering new ways to consume information are important themes in life, with tools like Squarespace, Listening app, and Vox making the process more accessible and innovative.
Our world, particularly the ocean, holds vast unknowns and discoveries waiting to be explored. Nicole's personal experience of witnessing the depths of the Challenger Deep, a tiny fraction of the sea floor, highlights the immense amount we still have to learn. This curiosity and excitement for discovery can be applied to various aspects of life, including academic studies and website creation. Squarespace simplifies the process of creating a website, making it accessible for anyone, regardless of technical knowledge. Similarly, the Listening app transforms text-based content into audio, making it easier for individuals to consume information in a new way. Vox, a media company founded 10 years ago, has dedicated itself to providing clarity, context, and nuance on various aspects of the world. To celebrate this milestone, they have launched a membership program, offering exclusive content and access to their journalism for supporters. Overall, the importance of exploration, innovation, and learning are recurring themes throughout the discussion. Whether it's delving into the depths of the ocean or discovering new ways to consume information, there's always something new to uncover and appreciate.
Marine seafloor mapping: Marine seafloor mapping by Tharp and Heezen revolutionized science by providing the first comprehensive maps of the Atlantic Ocean, impacting weather and climate patterns
The majority of the ocean floor, which covers 70% of the Earth's surface and is largely unmapped, holds significant unknowns and potential secrets. When marine scientist Marie Tharp began mapping the seafloor using sonar technology in the 1950s, it revolutionized science and changed our understanding of the Earth. Before Tharp, scientists could only gather data along the path of a ship, resulting in limited information. Tharp's work, in collaboration with Bruce Heezen, involved connecting the dots of these limited data points to create a silhouette of the seafloor. Their collaborative efforts led to the creation of the first comprehensive maps of the Atlantic Ocean. The importance of mapping the seafloor extends beyond scientific curiosity, as it impacts weather and climate patterns. The vast expanse of the ocean floor, which remains largely unexplored, holds many mysteries and secrets waiting to be discovered.
Marie Tharp's discovery: Marie Tharp's discovery of the mid-Atlantic ridge challenged established scientific beliefs and paved the way for the acceptance of continental drift and plate tectonics despite gender discrimination and opposition from colleagues.
Marie Tharp's discovery of the mid-Atlantic ridge, a giant crack running down the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, was a groundbreaking finding that challenged established scientific beliefs. At the time, continental drift theory, which proposed that continents were moving and had once been part of a supercontinent, was considered a fringe idea. Tharp faced significant opposition, including dismissal from her male colleagues and being barred from going on expeditions due to her gender. Despite these challenges, she and Bruce Heezen continued to map the ocean floor, eventually providing compelling evidence for continental drift. Their work revolutionized geological thinking, transforming the way scientists understood the Earth's movements and shape. Tharp's discovery also paved the way for the acceptance of plate tectonics, which continues to shape our understanding of the Earth today.
Ocean floor exploration: Technological advancements have allowed us to map only a small fraction of the ocean floor, revealing mysteries that influence climate and ocean currents, and we're making progress towards mapping the entire ocean floor in our lifetime.
Our understanding of the world, particularly the ocean floor, has significantly advanced in recent years due to technological advancements. Marie Tharp's groundbreaking work in mapping the Atlantic Ocean's floor using limited data serves as a historical precedent. However, only a small fraction of the ocean floor has been mapped to date, and there's much more to discover. The deep sea, which covers a vast majority of our planet, remains an underwater museum filled with mysteries that influence climate, ocean currents, and even the oxygen we breathe. With ongoing advancements in technology, we are making strides towards mapping the entire ocean floor within our lifetimes. The deep sea, though difficult to reach, holds infinite possibilities for new discoveries and understanding of our planet.
Marie Tharp's Impact: Marie Tharp's groundbreaking ocean mapping work challenged long-held beliefs and paved way for future discoveries despite skepticism and discrimination. Collaboration and media played crucial roles in bringing her story to life.
Learning from this episode of Unexplainable is the incredible impact of marine scientist Marie Tharp on the scientific community, particularly in the field of ocean mapping. Tharp's groundbreaking work, which she conducted alongside her husband, Charles, challenged long-held beliefs about the shape of the Atlantic Ocean floor. Her tenacity and determination in the face of skepticism and discrimination paved the way for future discoveries and advancements in oceanography. We also learned about the importance of collaboration and the role of media in bringing important stories to light. Nick Varola and Caledan Oceanic Varola Media provided footage of Nicole and Victor's dive, which helped bring Tharp's story to life. Ronald Dole and Tanya Levin shared their personal experiences and insights, adding depth and context to the narrative. Unexplainable encourages listeners to support the show and Vox's journalism by joining their membership program or leaving a review or rating. The episode was made possible by the American Institute of Physics and Columbia University, which preserved Tharp's oral histories. In conclusion, this episode highlights the power of perseverance, collaboration, and the importance of preserving and sharing scientific knowledge. Marie Tharp's story is a testament to the impact that one person can have on a field, and it serves as an inspiration for future generations of scientists and explorers.