Robot searching for the endurance wreck uncovers bizarre underwater structures

Robot Searching for the Endurance Wreck Uncovers Bizarre Underwater Structures

The icy depths of the Weddell Sea have long concealed many Antarctic mysteries. In 2019, an expedition embarked on a mission to find the legendary wreck of Ernest Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, which sank in 1915. Although the ship was not immediately located, their underwater robot, nicknamed “Lassie,” captured astonishing footage revealing mysterious structures scattered on the seabed.

Six years later, researchers have clarified the nature of these formations. A study published in Frontiers in Marine Science (R.B. Connelly et al., 2025) reports over a thousand circular depressions on the sea floor in this remote area. These pits stand out due to their unusually clean, sandy interiors, free from the plankton debris that covers the surrounding sediments, creating a distinct geometric underwater pattern unlike typical Antarctic seafloor landscapes.

Discoveries from Lassie’s Footage

The images recorded by “Lassie” show an intriguing variety of crevices:

Some are solitary.
Others curve gently, forming lines.
Some cluster densely together.

The stark contrast between the pristine depressions and the surrounding vegetative debris immediately drew the attention of marine biologists.

The seabed in this remote region is dotted with over a thousand circular depressions. Each pit is unusually clean, with sandy interiors free of plankton debris covering the surrounding sediments.

These unique formations present a striking geometric pattern, distinct from known Antarctic seafloor features.

Author’s Summary

This discovery reveals an extraordinary underwater landscape in the Weddell Sea, where hundreds of clean, circular pits form a puzzling geometric pattern unlike anything previously observed.

Le Ravi — 2025-11-06