NOAA Ocean Exploration announced on October 21, 2026, a new open-source Ocean DNA Explorer portal designed to make marine environmental DNA (eDNA) data easier to explore and share.
Scientists can study genetic material found in seawater to learn about organisms that may be difficult to observe directly. The agency’s dashboard describes sampling reaching depths of nearly 6,000 meters, offering an intriguing look at the challenges of cataloguing deep-ocean biodiversity.
Environmental DNA is evidence of biological material, not proof of any cryptid or unknown monster. But better access to ocean genetic data may help researchers investigate what lives in poorly observed marine environments.
