"Exploring the Mystery of 5,000 Newly Discovered Deep-Sea Creatures"

The Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, a potential site for deep-sea mining, is home to over 5,000 species of sea creatures, most of which are unknown to science. The area is a "wonderfully weird environment" with a plethora of creatures, including brightly coloured sea cucumbers, corals, and worms. Of the thousands of animals recorded, only 400 are known to science. Scientists have compiled an inventory of life-forms in the zone to help weigh up the risks to biodiversity and ensure that any mining activity is done in a way that "limits its impact upon the natural world."