Scientists discover 'minivan-sized' sea sponge

摘要

Two scientists in Hawaii discovered a "minivan-sized" sea sponge 7,000 feet deep in the Pacific Ocean, according to findings published this week. A remote device operated aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship found the sponge while on a monthlong expedition in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, which is off the coast of Niihau, the westernmost Hawaiian island. The U.S. national monument is 140,000 square miles. The camera on the device kept having to zoom out in order to get a full picture of the creature. It's estimated that the sponge is more than 11.5 feet long, 6.5 feet high and 5 feet wide. A sample was taken to identify and age the sponge. Some large sponges have been estimated at 2,300 years old.