An immersion at the bottom of the ocean. During the last ten days, the submarine exploration missions of the Atlantic Ocean broadcast live on YouTube through an Argentine Research Institute have fascinated.
Coraux, sea star and other incongruous fish … sometimes several kilometers deep, scientists explore the submarine cannon of Mar del Plata, all live on social networks, where they comment on their observations and answer the questions of Internet users.
And madness is clear: the research missions of the Schmidt Ocean Institute have become viral, with more than one million views and hundreds of messages. In general, the other missions of the Institute accumulate a few hundred or even thousands of points of view.
Discoveries that have become viral
If the spectators fell in love with this direct seabed, it is also thanks to the quality of the image captured by the “Bastian” submarine. The image is clear, fluid and bright. Diving information, such as exploration depth, water temperature or oxygen levels, is communicated directly.
But, above all, what largely fascinates Argentines is the articulated arm of the submarine, as well as its small vacuum that allows to interact with the seabed of up to 4,500 meters, all directly piloted from the surface.
What sometimes makes viral encounters. On July 26, “Bastian” met a sea star with a bright orange, with two symmetrical protuberances. Quickly, Internet users compared it to Patrick, the sea star of the universe of Bob the spongecausing a wave of “memes” that hints that Patrick is actually Argentine.
This Monday, August 4, for several hours, scientists and technicians explored the north of the cannon, at 3,700 meters, before slowly going to 2,900 meters to find invertebrates and fish, as well as to reap samples to study.
At 1:30 am, another 30,000 people carefully looked at the live broadcast, many of which commented on each being that was the “Bastian”.
A fight against budget cuts
Beyond the captivating images transmitted by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, this success feeds the debates about the budgets assigned to science in the country.
The National Council for Scientific Research in Argentina (CONICET), the equivalent of the CNR in France, is in the sight of Javier Milei. The Argentine president amputated his budget by 21% last year and reduces the salaries of the researchers.
Last May, thousands of scientists and researchers demonstrated in the streets of Buenos Aires to denounce the drastic budget cuts of the government, a blockade of sciences similar to that carried out in the United States by Donald Trump.
Then, for scientists in charge of the exploration of the Cayón de Mar del Plata, this madness in social networks that sometimes goes beyond the borders of Argentina demonstrates the interest of continuing to finance their organization.
Source: BFM TV
