Full fathom 5000 : The expedition of HMS Challenger and the strange animals it found in the deep sea
Date
2025-10-16
Authors
Bell, Graham
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Abstract
The Lansdowne Lecture tells the story of one of the great voyages of history. The circumnavigation made by HMS Challenger had momentous consequences: not only uncovering a whole new range of animals whose existence had never before been suspected, but also kick-starting the exploration of the oceans. It was the first to explore the deep sea it was not even known for sure whether any animals could survive in the perpetually cold, dark waters of the abyss under a crushing pressure. The voyage settled this question for good by capturing the strange and bizarre creatures that live a kilometre or more below the surface of the sea.