New Study Reveals 99.999% of Earth’s Deep Ocean Floor Unexplored

Marine researchers report that humans have directly mapped just 0.001% of the deep seafloor below 200 meters, meaning most of Earth’s oceans remain uncharted. The deep sea covers over half of the planet’s surface, yet we know less about it than the surfaces of the Moon or Mars. This gap impedes our understanding of marine life, critical geological processes, and potential resources hidden at extreme depths. Improved submersible tech and drone systems may help close this knowledge divide.