Conicet streams the seabed with over 70,000 viewers

Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Scientists from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Conicet), the main organization dedicated to the promotion of science and technology in Argentina, concluded this Sunday the transmission of the project 'Continental Slope IV', a scientific expedition from the bottom of the Mar del Plata Canyon, with more than 70 thousand viewers connected live. The live YouTube broadcast, which showed for almost three weeks in real time a myriad of species living at almost 4,000 meters deep, accumulated in its last broadcast more than 70,000 people connected simultaneously. During the last broadcast, which began early Sunday morning and lasted until 4:00 PM local time (7:00 PM GMT), the investigators celebrated the public's accompaniment. "We are proud to be part of the Public University and CONICET," they expressed from the Falkor (too) vessel, while the ROV SuBastian underwater robot completed its last dive at almost 4,000 meters deep. The closing included an emotional message from the scientists: on a sign placed on the seabed that said: 'Thank you for the support', in gratitude for the unexpected viral phenomenon that captivated thousands of Argentinians and foreigners.

The live broadcast, which became one of the most-watched content on YouTube in recent weeks, showed species never before seen in the region, such as the Dumbo octopus, little-known starfish, and deep-sea fish. The collected material -which includes ultra-high definition images and biological samples- will be used for scientific research and open databases. Upon completion, the samples will be exhibited at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences Bernardino Rivadavia, in the City of Buenos Aires. The mission began on July 23rd and studied benthic biodiversity, marine debris, environmental DNA, and sediment dynamics. The crossing of warm and cold currents in the area generates a unique ecosystem.

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The success of streaming reinforces interest in future campaigns in the South Atlantic and marks a milestone for Argentine science. The videos, data, and reports from each dive will be available on the project's official website, on CONICET channels, and on YouTube, for those who wish to relive the highlights of the mission or access the material for educational and scientific purposes. The expedition had the collaboration of the Schmidt Ocean Institute foundation of the United States and had the participation of more than 30 scientists from Argentine institutions, mainly from CONICET.