In , during her first dive as a graduate student, Anne Dekas collects methane-seep sediments from the deep-sea submersible Alvin. Image credit: Victoria Orphan, Caltech. A keen interest in the possibility of alien life ultimately led geomicrobiologist Anne Dekas to study some of the least-examined microbes on Earth — those dwelling in the deep sea. After the first meters, sunlight can penetrate the ocean no further, though the flashes of bioluminescent sea creatures provide a welcome respite in the inky abyss. An hour-long descent culminates with touchdown upon the ocean floor, where few humans have ever gone. At last, the lights of the submersible, dubbed Alvin , silently switch on, illuminating an alien landscape.

You are in a metal sphere that is not much wider than your outstretched arms. It is uncomfortable, cramped and cold and there are no facilities. You can't hear any noise from the ocean, but you do hear the noise of the sub. The fan of the air scrubber drones as it takes carbon dioxide out of the air and as oxygen is released from cylinders so we can breathe. You hear the hissing noise of the ballasting which brings water into tanks to sink the sub so we can descend, or expels water to make it lighter to ascend. Propellers churn to move the sub forward and lift props mid-ship adjust the altitude.

You can see it from the surface of the water: a blue outline 50 feet down. The last undersea base. Diving down to it is like falling slowly into another world.

We like a mystery as much as the next person, especially those that are discovered using satellite technology and can be investigated with modern tech. That is why we would like to draw your attention to what sonar maps seem to reveal on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. And why does the organisation responsible for the establishment of the International Date Line IDL , the Greenwhich meridian, seem to have been involved? Take a look at the following short video for answers and try to come to terms with what you see:. An innovative design allows us to decimate the operational cost of both orbital and interplanetary crewed missions, from surface to surface, over even the best industry competitors.