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Scientists Discover 31 New Midwater Species off Brazil

6/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered 31 new species in the midwater zone off Brazil.
Dr. Karen Osborn, chief scientist at the Smithsonian, led the expedition using the ROV SuBastian.
The vehicle deployed MBARI laser scanners, a Japanese shadowgraph camera, a Stanford microscope and a treadmill to image organisms.
Researchers recorded ghostly worms, glittering comb jellies, giant rhizarians, glass squid and a pelagic octopus eating a red jellyfish.

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Story summary

Scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute discovered 31 new species in the midwater zone off Brazil.
Dr. Karen Osborn, chief scientist at the Smithsonian, led the expedition using the ROV SuBastian.
The vehicle deployed MBARI laser scanners, a Japanese shadowgraph camera, a Stanford microscope and a treadmill to image organisms.
Researchers recorded ghostly worms, glittering comb jellies, giant rhizarians, glass squid and a pelagic octopus eating a red jellyfish.