For all human history, the deep ocean has been a source of wonder and terror, an unknown realm that evoked the question: What’s down there?
Unable to answer this question for centuries, people believed the deep was a sinister realm of fiendish creatures and deadly peril. But as cutting-edge technologies have allowed scientists and explorers to dive miles beneath the surface, we are beginning to understand this exotic underworld: It’s a place of soaring mountains, smoldering volcanoes, and valleys 7,000 feet deeper than Mount Everest is high, where tectonic plates collide and separate. The deep also is home to pink gelatinous predators, shimmering creatures that are 100 feet long, ancient animals with glass-like skeletons, and sharks that live for half a millennium.
Join Smithsonian Associates and award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Susan Casey for a journey through the history of deep-sea exploration and a look at the mind-blowing complexity and ecological importance of the myriad creatures who live in realms long thought to be devoid of life. She also addresses how vital the deep is to the future of the planet and how urgent it is that we understand it in a time of increasing threats from climate change, industrial fishing, pollution, and the mining companies that are exploring this world. The live stream will take place August 17 at 6:45 pm Eastern, and is $20 for Smithsonian Associates members, $25 for nonmembers. Discounted books are also available for purchase. Visit www.smithsonianassociates.org to register and for complete details.
