Far beneath the surface where light begins to dwindle is the deep sea, of which just 20% has been explored.
Estimates for how many species live here range from one to 10 million, with less than 250,000 discovered so far.
The deep sea also contains polymetallic nodules, rich in minerals like cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to increase deep sea mining and increase the country’s access to these minerals.
The order, titled Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources, was signed on April 24 2025.
It reads: “Our Nation must take immediate action to accelerate the responsible development of seabed mineral resources, quantify the Nation’s endowment of seabed minerals, reinvigorate American leadership in associated extraction and processing technologies and ensure secure supply chains for our defence, infrastructure and energy sectors.”
“These resources are key to strengthening our economy, securing our energy future and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical minerals.”