"We know more about the surfaces of the Moon and Mars than we do about the floor of the ocean." —Sylvia Earle, ocean explorer

	Discovering the Depths This submersible makes up to 200 dives a year, taking scientists down 900 meters (3000 feet). On-board cameras record underwater scenes while a robotic arm and samplers collect marine specimens. © Mark Conlin / www.norbertwu.com

Exploring the ocean was once limited to what could be seen from shore or a ship or by diving down a few meters. Then, commerce and curiosity drove explorers from ancient Egypt, Phoenicia, China and Polynesia to venture over the horizon. It wasn't until the 19th century that American and European ships made the first scientific voyages.

Today, small submarines have become invaluable research vessels for scientists. These and other new tools—satellites, robotic vehicles and self-propelled, data-logging buoys—are helping us discover new species, uncover new resources and understand how interconnected the oceans are with the rest of the planet. Still, less than five percent of the deep ocean has been explored. Imagine the possibilities.

Remote Research
Researchers don't have to get wet to explore the ocean. New technology—including satellites that scan the sea from space—can beam detailed data directly to desktop computers.

The ocean is vast, but satellites—remote eyes in the sky—can collect millions of data points in an instant. Some satellites measure the color of the ocean, which corresponds with the quantity and types of phytoplankton present, to indicate ocean health and productivity. Others record changing sea-surface elevations. Back on Earth, temperature and salinity information from fleets of floating buoys helps researchers understand how the ocean affects Earth's climate.

Even buoys anchored in place help explore the ocean by collecting hourly information on wind speed, temperature and more. These details are used to predict weather, waves and circulation patterns—information that is useful to fishermen, shippers, rescue teams and planners.

	The Big Picture Satellite images supply researchers with details of the most remote regions of the Earth. Data collected over several years reveal where plants grow on the planet—including in the oceans. It would take a research vessel thousands of years to collect the same information. Photo: SeaWiFS Project, NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center and ORBIMAGE

Fishing for Cures
In the past, prospectors combed streams and mountainsides in search of riches. But today, bioprospectors search the ocean for treasures of another kind: chemical compounds that may be the next miracle drug.

Dozens of compounds extracted from ocean organisms are currently being tested for medicinal use. It turns out that many marine species produce what may be the chemical keys to future cures. Think of a coral reef, where many organisms live attached to the bottom. They face fierce competition for space—and they can't run away. Some fend off competitors and predators with chemical defenses, which may also be the ingredients needed to alleviate human ailments.

Painkillers, antibiotics and cancer-fighting drugs are just some of the potential uses products from the sea. A compound isolated from a deep-water sponge may guard against tumors. Another sponge extract is a potent anti-inflammatory—a possible treatment for arthritis. And a tropical cone snail's toxin may one day be a treatment for the extreme pain associated with cancer.