James Cameron to explore the Mariana Trench

[Fuzzzie]

Thought this was interesting.

Look's like James Cameron is set to explore the Deepest point in Earth's oceans in his deep sea submersible this month. The Deep Sea Challenger was built in Australia and can decent at up to 700ft/m.

The machine is also outfitted with cameras and manipulator arms. Hopefully there will be some amazing life down there and we'll get to see them in the coming months.

Read more here: http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012...rts/?hpt=hp_c1

What do you think? Would you go?

[Bakis]

This is awesome. Considering mankind know more about the moon than our oceans this will be fck great to watch the upcoming documentary

[Vanyali]

nooo megaladon *avoids all beachs* :O



in seriousness, the stuff we find in deep water is... awesome. and scary. being able to see what can survive and thrive at the super high pressure will be really interesting

[K-b]

Avatar Part 2

[Olianda]

nooo megaladon *avoids all beachs* :O



in seriousness, the stuff we find in deep water is... awesome. and scary. being able to see what can survive and thrive at the super high pressure will be really interesting

Hey Meg was a great book series.

I don't know if I would go, that would seem to be a horrible death if it went wrong. But it'd be like going to a whole new planet, life is so much different there.

[Sealbinder]

I would love to go. The idea of going seeing the deep ocean is a dream of mine.

[Judge Malthred]

He is looking for his aliens from "The Abyss" IMO.

[Vanyali]

Hey Meg was a great book series.

I don't know if I would go, that would seem to be a horrible death if it went wrong. But it'd be like going to a whole new planet, life is so much different there.

It was indeed, but if he brings one up I'm moving to nebraska.

On the subject of new planets, i think stuff like this is actually used to determine if life could/ would survive on certain planets... so we ARE remotely studying another planet, in a way. mind-blowing.

[Olianda]

It was indeed, but if he brings one up I'm moving to nebraska.

On the subject of new planets, i think stuff like this is actually used to determine if life could/ would survive on certain planets... so we ARE remotely studying another planet, in a way. mind-blowing.

Please, Nebraska wouldn't be safe. It'd be like in the Piranha movies, eventually the things would start to fly... The only way to be safe would be to come up to Minnesota, I'll have a Shark-proof shelter made by the time he goes on the voyage. Feel free to join me, but bring food.

God those were stupid movies...

[Herecius]

I'm curious how they plan on solving the problem the very first and only previous manned deep sea exploration of the Challenger Deep encountered, namely that as soon as you reach the bottom, you stir up dust and sand, and the nature of the water down there means it never really settles, not in any reasonable time frame anyways.

The previous expedition way back wasn't able to get a single decent photograph because they were surrounded by a cloud of dust as soon as they got down there.

EDIT: Also, just wanted to say that it's an incredible and fascinating thought that there is a place on Earth that we know less about than some of the most distant stars.

[Vanyali]

Please, Nebraska wouldn't be safe. It'd be like in the Piranha movies, eventually the things would start to fly... The only way to be safe would be to come up to Minnesota, I'll have a Shark-proof shelter made by the time he goes on the voyage. Feel free to join me, but bring food.

God those were stupid movies...

Oh my god... I'm moving in. I can't cook, but i... uhh... I'll bring canned food.

I'm curious how they plan on solving the problem the very first and only previous manned deep sea exploration of the Challenger Deep encountered, namely that as soon as you reach the bottom, you stir up dust and sand, and the nature of the water down there means it never really settles, not in any reasonable time frame anyways.

The previous expedition way back wasn't able to get a single decent photograph because they were surrounded by a cloud of dust as soon as they got down there.

Might sound stupid, but couldn't they filter it somewhat? Not sure exactly how much sand and dust gets stirred up (and the idea that it gets stirred up with multiple earth pressures on it.. :O), but it seems like if you had a vacuum of some sort that trapped dirt and sand and released water you could clear it a little, assuming engines were off.

Or not go quite so deep? A shame, but better than being stuck in a dust-storm.

[Fuzzzie]

I'm curious how they plan on solving the problem the very first and only previous manned deep sea exploration of the Challenger Deep encountered, namely that as soon as you reach the bottom, you stir up dust and sand, and the nature of the water down there means it never really settles, not in any reasonable time frame anyways.

The previous expedition way back wasn't able to get a single decent photograph because they were surrounded by a cloud of dust as soon as they got down there.

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. I'm sure they have some sort of plan, although even displacing water with that kind of silt will probably stir it up. Never mind landing or moving around.

[Judge Malthred]

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. I'm sure they have some sort of plan, although even displacing water with that kind of silt will probably stir it up. Never mind landing or moving around.

I am picturing a spider like apparatus that moves around on long needle-like legs to have the smallest possible displacing footprint on the ocean floor.

[Herecius]

Might sound stupid, but couldn't they filter it somewhat? Not sure exactly how much sand and dust gets stirred up (and the idea that it gets stirred up with multiple earth pressures on it.. :O), but it seems like if you had a vacuum of some sort that trapped dirt and sand and released water you could clear it a little, assuming engines were off.

Or not go quite so deep? A shame, but better than being stuck in a dust-storm.

Well, the idea is that you get to the bottom to see what sorts of bottom-living life forms are down there, I think. Using a vacuum or any kind of machinery might only make it worse, and could also accidentally suck in tiny life forms if there are any. All in all, it's a pretty tough problem to overcome, I rather wish I could work on a team that helped engineer solutions to those sorts of issues..

[Fuzzzie]

I am picturing a spider like apparatus that moves around on long needle-like legs to have the smallest possible displacing footprint on the ocean floor.

Have you seen the pictures from the article I linked? It's actually pretty big. There's a video there too. I cant imagine something that heavy with all the steel to keep James alive could be supported by tiny legs.

Also, like I said, even getting close to the floor of the ocean will stir up silt as the water displaces from underneath the craft.

[rabbimojo]

I'm wondering if this is just poor reporting or if they left no room for error on pressure... The article says can withstand "up to 16,000 pounds per square inch". At 36,000 feet, isn't that ~1092 atmospheres of pressure? (Counting the 1 at sea level). 1092 * 14.7 = 16052.4 psi... I wonder if it's built for significantly more, or if the reporter was just saying how much it needed to withstand.

Anyways, nifty. Looking forward to hearing more about this. We need more billionaires who do neat things with their money!

[Judge Malthred]

Have you seen the pictures from the article I linked? It's actually pretty big. There's a video there too. I cant imagine something that heavy with all the steel to keep James alive could be supported by tiny legs.

Also, like I said, even getting close to the floor of the ocean will stir up silt as the water displaces from underneath the craft.

I haven't had a chance to check it out yet but don't forget that they should be able to adjust buoyancy so the legs wouldn't need to support the weight, just move it around.

Also, would it be possible to not reach the bottom but deploy some kind of camera arm to explore without displacing anything? Or maybe only the craft itself can withstand the pressure.

[ciggy]

This is so interesting to me, I have wondered for years when someone would attempt to go back there. Really hope it turns out to be as informative as I hope.

[Worgoblin]

This is exciting. I can only imagine what can be found the deepest parts of the ocean. Living things down there seem almost... alien.

[Fuzzzie]

I'm wondering if this is just poor reporting or if they left no room for error on pressure... The article says can withstand "up to 16,000 pounds per square inch". At 36,000 feet, isn't that ~1092 atmospheres of pressure? (Counting the 1 at sea level). 1092 * 14.7 = 16052.4 psi... I wonder if it's built for significantly more, or if the reporter was just saying how much it needed to withstand.

Anyways, nifty. Looking forward to hearing more about this. We need more billionaires who do neat things with their money!

there's probably a buffer there. I can't say what it is though.

I haven't had a chance to check it out yet but don't forget that they should be able to adjust buoyancy so the legs wouldn't need to support the weight, just move it around.

Also, would it be possible to not reach the bottom but deploy some kind of camera arm to explore without displacing anything? Or maybe only the craft itself can withstand the pressure.

We'll have to see I guess. I'm sure there is a plan. I can't see them going all that way to take pictures of silt.