Challenger Deep - the race

Pixel said:
You won't get larger creatures (if any) at those depths because the constant pressure of all that water will hinder it. Natural selection would make short work of such a creature at those depths.

Unless they're made of some as-yet-unknown substance that 100% completely resists pressure.
Click to expand...

Well I can confirm 100% that the England test cricket teams kit is not made from this :D:p
 
Ocean depth exploration has always fascinated me and I always found it remarkable how it was done in the 60's and hasn't been done since. I would love there to be some kind of reasonable price deep sea tourism developed for this as I for one would be first in the queue.

Don't know who I would back to be the first to do it. Virgin looks pretty impressive, although I thought the do-er sub may have been a favourite as it's the only one to follow the traditional bathyscape model of the original Trieste.

On a side point, when the Trieste made the dive, when they reached the bottom, the window cracked :eek: Serious brown trouser time.
 
Von Smallhausen said:
I find it amazing that cutting edge military subs can't go anywhere close to that depth but organic creatures can despite the crushing psi.
Click to expand...

That's not amazing because those creatures can match the pressure internally so atre perfectly fine, someone mentioned this earlier too.

Submarines etc can't match the pressure because otherwise people could not be inside them :p
 
Von Smallhausen said:
I find it amazing that cutting edge military subs can't go anywhere close to that depth but organic creatures can despite the crushing psi.
Click to expand...

Look at how things like deep sea ROVs work by using oil compensated systems to regulate the pressure within them so no pressure differences between two surfaces. Can't really do that on bit steel things which have people living in them.

KaHn
 
Amp34 said:
There are loads of big creatures in the deep we know about. The big creature would use the same systems the small ones would use. As long as the pressure is the same internally as externally (no large air sacks etc) there should be no issues.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, there is going to be a point at which cells or cell membranes would either cease to function or be able to exist due to the pressure.
 
bam0 said:
Not necessarily, there is going to be a point at which cells or cell membranes would either cease to function or be able to exist due to the pressure.
Click to expand...

......................read the wiki link I posted, also if you are not an expert on a subject arguing your opinion is not normally a good idea.

Just saying.

KaHn
 
KaHn said:
......................read the wiki link I posted, also if you are not an expert on a subject arguing your opinion is not normally a good idea.

Just saying.

KaHn
Click to expand...

I did, did you?

Giant isopod: 170-2140m
Spider crab: 50-600m
Giant squid: 300-1000m
King of Herrings: 300-1000m

Here we're talking about depths exceeding 10000m.

Something else for you to read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezophile
"The high pressures experienced by these organisms can cause the normally fluid cell membrane to become waxy and relatively impermeable to nutrients."
 
pah they already done this in the 50s it's the same as virgins challenge to cross the atlantic couldn't even beat a 1911 steampowered boat.... virgin fails.... this will fail....
 
bam0 said:
Not necessarily, there is going to be a point at which cells or cell membranes would either cease to function or be able to exist due to the pressure.
Click to expand...

I take it you mean more technically than practically? Cells (AFAIK) don't increase in size* due to the size of the animal. Just because the animal is larger doesn't mean the cells can't take the pressure. :D

*Obviously cell size depends on the cell type as much as anything else!
 
I find it sad that we know more about space than we do our own oceans. Some of those creatures beggar belief in my mind, for anything other than creationism. Flashlight fish is a win!
 
It's great to see so many supporters of deep sea exploration. I've always been fascinated with it ever since I read 20,000 leagues under the sea. I agree it is sad that we know more about space than our own seas.
 
Apparently Cameron has now successfully completed all deep water testing of his submersible and it's pretty much all systems go for a dive to Challenger Deep.

This has so fascinated me since I was a nipper and I think it's the one thing I would be willing to risk my life to experience.

I wish him the best and cannot wait to see the footage.

TO THE ABYSS!!!!
 
Would not want to be in that if there was a leak. :D


Would be interesting to do IF there was actually anything to see down there (eg the lights were strong enough, there wasn't disturbed sediment etc). Wouldn't want to go just for bragging rights.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom