Mysterious Purple Orb | Nautilus Live

During our initial observations in NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, a snail-like foot and no visible shell suggested the sphere might be a pleurobranch sea slug. Upon more well-rounded review by our research partners at Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology, it is now thought the orb belongs to another distantly related group of snails--the velutinids. Modern techniques, including microCT scanning and RNA sequencing, are being used to describe this very likely new species of velutinid.
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E/V Nautilus is exploring the ocean studying biology, geology, archeology, and more. Watch www.nautiluslive.org for live video from the ocean floor. For live dive updates follow along on social media at / nautiluslive and / evnautilus on Twitter. For more photos from our dives, check out our Instagram @nautiluslive.

[@rosekay5031]

Orb minding own business, hears strange noise, sees bright light, is abducted by aliens. Poor orb.

[@kingbassk83]

Aliens with duct tape.

[@jeremydanchuk1897]

Orb goes "at last" then releases face hugger

[@richardlamarre3610]

Tell that to the Crab eyeing it just 2 minutes earlier.

[@gabeaugust7699]

And when it comes back home nobody will believe it, poor orb indeed.

[@MissGothicksoul]

Actually, while watching the video, I imagined a person being abducted by aliens, while the aliens had a conversation similar to the one that we heard in the video... And on the other side, the person would be horror-stricken.

[@MisakaMikotoDesu]

Multimillion dollar submersible Duct tape holding some parts together.

[@jm27232]

duct tape is always the solution

[@stephenjones3630]

Is it supposed to move? no? Duct tape. Is it supposed to move? yes? WD-40. Two solutions to all of our problems.

[@jm27232]

Original Beard Exactly.

[@EVNautilus]

Sometimes, the most basic items are the most essential tools! :) Duct tape was utilized to ensure that, when Hercule's claw grabs the hose, it does not damage the tubing.

[@zackosborn1731]

It's a multi-million dollar submersible so technically its a: Enhanced adhesive, synthetic polymer binding agent!

[@faroshscale]

"what is the diameter of the slurp?" very intriguing question

[@bladerj]

very technical term for a vaccum

[@stormrungaming]

"idk if it's squishy..."

[@stevethea5250]

@@bladerj they could've called it the succc

[@elenachristine6266]

😂😂

[@pleasurepain9647]

guy: so how do we get it? girl: suction...

[@shishilanpasalan4144]

0:20 I love how one of them decided to name it "blobis purplis" a great species name

[@MissTrinidad]

Lame 🤦🏽‍♀️. Just like u.

[@hatedxaddiction]

Never underestimate duct tape, even in a deep sea environment.

[@theyellyone9852]

That is "duck tape" as it was originally made with cotton duck, like canvas. Duct tape is aluminum tape. Thin metal backed with sticky stuff.....just to clear that up.

[@hatedxaddiction]

Duck Tape is a brand of duct tape. Duct tape is a generic term for all tapes of that type. Check your facts man. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape

[@ShawnTheSilentLurkerKerr]

Did you link a wiki page and try to tell us that it is fact?

[@bigdog4574]

Hey don't knock wiki! 95% of experts get their info on Wiki!

[@hatedxaddiction]

actually wikipedia is fact checked almost constantly.

[@klever161]

this Pokemon Go locations are getting ridiculous

[@davewolf6256]

I was disappointed when I learned that Pokemon Go locations for water pokemon and large wild pokemon were all in large cities. Pokemon Go was astonishing to me because it meant people would have to go into nature to try and catch them. Instead, you had to stay in populated areas? :(

[@shartbake1134]

The map data is from google earth, with some updates from Niantic. The locations are based on player submissions from an older game called Ingress. Unfortunately, most of the Ingress agents tend to play in the city, and all of the locations are based on man made structures. Things like post offices, museums and churches are almost guaranteed to be a location in the game because they are automatically accepted when submitted by players. Any other general points of interest have a good chance of also being accepted as locations in the game. I try as much as possible to submit locations anywhere I can, especially at parks and campgrounds and such. I've there's also "bait" items that attract Pokemon to your area by increasing the spawn rate or something, I don't know I don't play Pokemon just Ingress. There's also a Harry Potter game.

[@nignugplease]

😂😂 i 💗 it!!

[@chrislaw4080]

This made me spit on my phone loling

[@hardatk27]

This aged well.

[@rebeccatrishel]

LEAVE THE ORB ALONE. It's like you guys have never seen a horror movie before.

[@RayVal53]

lol.

[@BikramAgarwal]

They just unlished cracken's spawn.

[@jackboats]

Token black scientist always dies first.

[@joshuamanjarrez6321]

+J Boats true

[@multiprickspresents4194]

or the guy wearing the red shirt!

[@jerk1921]

*OMG, when they said suction I was expecting advanced apparatus. Not my mom's old floor vac tube with duct tape holding it together*

[@meltax4870]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Jimersion]

No one poked it with a stick? Scientist, you disappoint me.

[@ThinkingAtheos]

"You only need to do this with spiders" my scientific handbook says

[@mopododo]

They had the crap poke it.

[@branch1534]

crab* ↑

[@hwago123]

Right? That's the the most basic and essential science tequnique

[@megangibbs4158]

Some marine species disintegrate when poked.

[@wulfsaga2]

And then few days later they lost contact with the ship.....

[@dakotamccloud7615]

what do you mean

[@youngcat4760]

+dakota mccloud lol

[@KpS4all]

xD

[@pyroxxx]

Alien reference xd

[@KennethV2000]

Namida shuddup lol

[@darkninjacorporation]

The crab was like "I got this y'all, I'll poke it for you!" :)

[@Manj_J]

The crab wanted to take part in science too!

[@Gis1243cute]

I'm more happy about how much fun everyone is having working in this video

[@Youre]

Agreed

[@cloud4579]

@@Youre you're name tage probly triggers alot of people

[@whimsygrove9971]

That's how they act in all their videos.

[@acolyteoffire4077]

wecome to the general demeanor of every scientist who is doing field work. they are at their absolute happiest.

[@nicoleo5017]

Exactly!

[@chuckBK]

All that sophisticated cutting edge tech to guide a vacuum cleaner hose taped with duct tape. Love it ;)

[@racsonetsah]

I know. Duct tape and they had to start the dive like that. It's not as if someone got out and repaired the hose.

[@RhodianColossus]

duct tape is a very versatile engineering instrument and should not be underestimated

[@erica.5583]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@joshg9122]

And they call it "The Slurp".

[@Leto_0]

It works, a more professional looking solution would probably be astronomically more expensive and work just as well

[@erdalea20]

Even the crab is fascinated by the mysterious purple glowing orb >.>

[@Oscar4u69]

it's children! D':

[@caspianhorlick4529]

Nah, you saw the crab poke it inquisitively and then move away later in the video. *THE CRAB KNOWS*

[@Zerviscos]

it probably got scared of the lasers

[@qtasabutton21]

Or maybe warning it to get away since scary giant alien people are poking and probing and capturing them in their environment....

[@smitty7326]

crab is just sitting there, then "oh hey, ya that is interesting. wtf is that"

[@mikiimiki9182]

For those wondering what it was, it turned out to be a sea snail (gastropod not nudibranch) and that flat part was its leg. Its color was actually brown and the purple hue was a result of the submersible's light.

[@ShadowsandCityLights]

Ah, thank you! I was about to comment that I still don't know what it is to this day!

[@michaelallen714]

I love how people just believe you lol. thats not what it was.

[@mikiimiki9182]

@@michaelallen714 what it was then smarty pants

[@ohmysnap14]

@@mikiimiki9182nudibranch are Gastropods, all snails and slugs are mollusks and gastropods. It was a sea slug in the family velutinidae. It says it in the description.

[@creditsunknown7974]

​@@michaelallen714It is though. Check the description of the video, hey have identified it as a Velutinidae which is a type of sea snail

[@Eryan724]

Science language: " dont clog the slurp" xD

[@MetalPcAngel]

It's the seed of Cthulhu.

[@Michael019x]

xD

[@norakowalski6717]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu

[@SteamedToast]

They were not composed altogether of flesh and blood. They had shape [...] but that shape was not made of matter. When the stars were right, They could plunge from world to world through the sky; but when the stars were wrong, They could not live. But although They no longer lived, They would never really die. They all lay in stone houses in Their great city of R'lyeh, preserved by the spells of mighty Cthulhu for a glorious resurrection when the stars and the earth might once more be ready for Them.

[@acedia7192]

I love you

[@MrRufioooo]

It is indeed... its obveious ly oubvieous

[@savagemonkey6639]

you know what is amazing? hundreds of years of sailing, exploring and science and we still find things that we dont know what they are exactly. i love this stuff.

[@whalegod1056]

That’s a gel sac, I can make aerogel from them in subnautica.

[@johnchapman1132]

My man

[@baconeguarde1127]

no thats the shadow orb from terraria

[@donloyal]

Since no one's asking the main question, *Is there a follow up video for this?*

[@Nutty151]

Probably not, but they updated the description of the video.

[@StardustSynchron]

I’m super confused. So it’s a snail or related to them from the description?

[@carmengogeidnas9670]

Yes was it ever identified??

[@weaselengine961]

@@carmengogeidnas9670 The description states that they are from the family Velutinidae which are really weird sea snails.

[@Roycesraphim1]

@@weaselengine961 it had a friend to the left!

[@christian_lied]

Whatever it is, it's really pretty

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

Like most women.

[@christian_lied]

Thank you for the wisdom ^ ^

[@philthy122]

"Was" as in the past tense....it's dead now, and no-longer pretty. Probably just a dull greyish-purple blob that smell like a dead fish.

[@christian_lied]

philthy122 At least I saw its beauty then

[@theCoenC]

+TheMusketITuckedIt men**

[@MisterGibbycrumbles]

WELL, WHAT IS THE DIAMETER OF THE SLURP???

[@thatskykidfreya]

Imagine you’re just chilling minding your own business and then out of nowhere a vacuum comes and sucks you up

[@conken1999]

What a baby thinks before its aborted

[@danarud3471]

@@conken1999 beat me to it

[@petersmythe6462]

"I reckon it's some kind of Cnidarian" The default answer for wierd things that you're not sure are living or not.

[@RichieW]

This is the start of of a film where crazy aliens take over the world.

[@CodMikeify]

aliens dont live on the bottom of the ocean

[@RichieW]

Sky Dayer they don't live on the moon either.

[@douchymcdouche169]

You know this how? A huge part of the ocean floor is still unexplored. There could be civilizations we've never encountered.

[@budcalypso458]

And it's not the orb that makes one think that. But the scientists who sound like a group of juveniles playing subnautica on a friday night, unsuspecting that the V in VR is missing.

[@thatstress1]

😂😂😂

[@pearlwingdraws682]

The way they all said "OOooo!" When they got the orb

[@terryg4415]

Ian: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.” Jurassic Park

[@goliathsteinbeisser3547]

"I can't hazard a guess... to file it..." "Purple!" Purple it is, then.

[@65elcamino283]

my dog's chew toy!!! we lost it at the beach some time ago! my dog says she'd like it returned please.... just throw it, she said.

[@worldthroughmyeyes8154]

Bahahaha! Ur funny!

[@Pierce456Go]

Hello, I’m from 4 years in the future. I’d like to know how to are able to communicate with your dog.

[@65elcamino283]

@@Pierce456Go telepathy. Duh!

[@MirageMiM]

DEPLOY SLURP

[@tasichannel9475]

Lol... Thats what SHE said!

[@anonymousguy5556]

Oh look. infinity stone.

[@neptune1870]

thanos found this in the ocean this whole time

[@benhughes4493]

Your a few years to early pal

[@colleenross8752]

@@benhughes4493 how early, 5 years?

[@cheryldahl9192]

You stole the crabs precious! He will find you.... He will revenge his precious!

[@MissTrinidad]

Lame

[@benhughes4493]

Not lame

[@najmaht.a.1314]

Flashback to the crab/lobster antagonist from moana who liked shiny things

[@Dendroapsis]

These are the voyages of the ocean ship Nautilus, her ongoing mission to seek out new life and... SHLURPP!!

[@SonOfMeme]

boldly shlurp what no man has shlurped before

[@eukleidesk6759]

It's a Pokemon.

[@KyleSfhandyman]

Exactly. It is the back side of a Venonat.

[@user-mq1ce4rc3v]

lol

[@joaoultimate5533]

parece o venonat

[@ffrreeddyy123456]

Guess that Pokémon!

[@benmasta5814]

its a poke-egg

[@gagewesterhouse9558]

"What is that?". "I don't know. Suck it up with a vacuum!". Another successful Nautilus mission.

[@violentXcupcakes]

The chitter chatter really makes me feel so happy watching these videos! I’m so glad to hear the scientists express the same enthusiasm that I have :) keep up the good work! It’s fascinating

[@onepcwhiz]

I love the bantering on the scientists back and forth in this video!

[@notanalien4328]

Hail the purple orb.

[@MissTrinidad]

Shut up douche.

[@neptune1870]

power stone

[@arandomguywithagreenprofil5075]

ORB of Dominic

[@thatonedegenerate]

I dont know why I'm laughing so hard to hearing a scientist say "Blobus Purplus"

[@MyTurtleCollab]

These scientists are chill af

[@OmegaSon]

Seeing how chill they are makes me want to be a scientist even more

[@guilhemane]

Imagine this is what aliens sound like when they abduct humans... "Wow haha, it's so cute!"

[@georgesmith3628]

This is the scene where the ominous object in the deep ocean reveals itself as a 50ft monster shaking the layer of dirt off its top.

[@rogue7466]

It's a Manaphy egg

[@eddiet4708]

No matter how high tech the equipment is, you always need to have a roll of duct tape around. We know more about the surface of Pluto than we do of our ocean floor. Great stuffs!

[@thesaucewhisperer6073]

On the left of the " Mysterious Purple Orb " there is what looks like a similar looking but worn out and "spent" looking. Anyways, hope to hear back about what it is. Subscribed!

[@hoppy6437]

The fact that this involves lasers immediately makes it extremely cool

[@harryshin3209]

did you guys give it a name? may I suggest sea-disco-ball? It's from latin? meaning ball that looks like a ball disco ball in the sea. or you can call it purple squishy or underwater stressball or something. very professional naming right here.

[@NurseSnow2U]

Harry Shin 😂😂😂

[@MissTrinidad]

Thanks douche.

[@SrgtBarney]

1:43 "LAZE IT" ok, these scientist are cool as hell and definitely get high af

[@Eryan724]

You have to laze it. Dont wanna clog the slurp! ...never clog the slurp!

[@bach_in_a_minuet8700]

Eryan724 but wHAT IS THE DIAMETER OF THE SLURP???

[@MrCrasherdog]

420 laze it

[@unnamedtraveler7380]

"Maybe its a spider egg-sack"

[@artichoke116]

When I saw the title and thumbnail, my first thought was: "A new hand touches the beacon! Listen! Hear and obey!"

[@lilitheden748]

I saw this live almost a year ago, It's amazing what simplicity and beauty there is on this big ball of water of us. It's little things like this purple creature that should make us aware of the beauty and vulnerability of life, also human life. Seeing the ocean creatures (and land creatures) should humble us and set everything in perspective. We are no more than a passing echo in the timeline of the natural world. Humans tend to feel themselves so all important that the real world is forgotten. The ablolute marvel of everything surrounding is pushed away for what we call "daily live". If again we could be aware of the magic of nature, we could maybe see that we all are part of it and in a way we all are creatures of the same earth, with the same beginning and eventually the same end. Maybe, just maybe then we could leave all differences behind us and start caring for what is the most important, the great big space ship we call Earth and all of it's creatures. Not in the usual human way of trying to solve the problem, who are we but just a blimp on the scale of everything. No, just being, again, part of the circle of life, in stead of fighting it. Embracing our natural self and live in harmony with all creatures, each other and our planet. We have so much potential, it hurts me to see how we throw it away by fighting, murdering and abusing our own kind and all of the wonders amongst us, every day again.

[@Awooochy]

ok

[@bobbynosenikki6937]

I like your perspective/thought. Thank you for sharing

[@robertma6068]

I think this is the first video I saw of your channel. I remember saying "You guys should get a license for how much fun you have" haha I'm bursting at the seams for your new season starting in a few days (may 2010). Funny how you don't know about a channel at all, and then by the same time next year, you're looking forward to a new dive season more than anything else!

[@marthaanderson2656]

Oh man we are going to have to have a special video release when this one gets ID.

[@brandonwachter2264]

Did anyone else notice the purple orb react to the sediment "snow" coming into contact by changing colors & looking different?

[@newtagwhodis4535]

These are like the most casual scientists ever. Love it!

[@gracefisher663]

These videos are so fun to watch, even years later.

[@TheTaintedWisdom]

Hey, that's my soul orb of chaos & destr- I mean... ... My jelly stress ball... give it back please...

[@heyimharlz]

i'm not saying its aliens..... but its aliens.

[@glenp.8241]

These videos are such a tease, I have to go finish college and see more

[@thegriffin88]

Even if it only turned out to be a sea...cucumber I think it was? Some kind of plant-animal. It's neat to see that in the several hundred years of natural science sometimes we still just go up and grab things we've never seen before. Like the olden days.

[@rentacowisgoogle]

So is it dead now? Are there more?

[@ShadovvV]

Exactly. Humans first contact with alien life: Kill it. Great work, clowns.

[@CodMikeify]

the ocean floor isnt alien lmao

[@NYRLHP]

the ocean floor is HIGHLY alien and unknown you fool rofl

[@rieskimo]

Yes and most likely

[@SalamanderMagic]

+Sky Dayer Have you seen some of the creatures found down there? It might as well be aliens!

[@boredwarlock5216]

Hey guys! Could you update the description of this video with what the orb was classified as? Thank you & love the channel

[@rimetime6423]

thank goodness i found this channel - truly fascinating

[@griffinraynor8425]

I love how they're just talking and joking the whole time. I often imagine scientists are super serious, so it's nice to see that idea challenged.

[@Fugazity]

what i find creepy about this, is the researchers where like"whats that purple ball other there?" and the... weird sea spider touch it with one of their legs, like "don't touch this, its my PRECIOUS!" like it could hear them.

[@Michael019x]

LOL!!!

[@jahalie9]

Animals may not understand what we say but some can hear the intonations and figure out the intention or the meaning. Not saying that it's the case here, just sayin.

[@stevegoesrogue]

The Smeagol of the Seas?

[@luckas221a]

"weird sea spider"... ever heard of a crab, buddy?

[@Toothlessaiahworld]

Nope, that is King crabs, (Lithodidae) this one is Neolithodes Diomedeae showing off the video

[@bipo819]

They call it the slurp Love that

[@aprilblenk]

I'm surprised at how casual you guys sound for scientists. Like you're all playing a video game or something. I like that :)

[@amberrouse2631]

The crab is like " im just gonna slowly back out of here"🤣

[@honeywasp7839]

I like how people are like oh leave it alone it's probably the last of its kind 1)if it's the last of its kind then what's the point in leaving it its. Going to die alone anyway why not fined out what it is 2) how do you think new species are discovered 3) how would they even know what it is if they didn't do that

[@Mixolydian7712]

Ecotards ecotards everywhere.

[@MissTrinidad]

Find not fined... Douche bag. 🤦🏽‍♀️ What a dumbass. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@kybervc901]

@@MissTrinidad at least he got his name right "useless"

[@Rivergirl2878]

I’m judging by its invertebrate status and “flat bottom” I’d say it’s a really fun new flavor of nudibranch

[@thaksjtube]

these guys are so lucky, they get to explore the last and perhaps most interesting part of the world still undiscovered

[@RhonaLaB999999]

Oh wow. It looks like my grandparents Xmas lights from 60 years ago! Beautiful.

[@paxcallow]

this comment section is like 99% old people being pissed off that young people have more personality than them

[@InfiltrateIndustries]

Way to go - defend the scientist younglings!

[@1983Corolla]

This is a year old comment but you literally couldn't of made a better comment, just old people pretending they know what science and marine biology is and being mad that young people are having fun doing what they love.

[@joycethompson1361]

If you are lucky, one day you will find yourself old.

[@punsandmusicals]

All of the people commenting bc they think they know more about how this stuff works than literal scientists. Bruh.

[@joshuafogg6600]

Kind of surprised that MIB didn't get this taken down.

[@morocco585]

The little melody in the beginning of all their videos is out of this world 🌎

[@jjaapp18]

Still wondering what it is. Please post a new update.

[@lamerica80]

Is it glowing from the inside or is that just reflected light from the sub?

[@TheMusketITuckedIt204]

It's storing unlimited untapped energy!

[@lamerica80]

Its the galaxy! We have to protect the galaxy!

[@passwordyeah729]

does that make the crab the guardian of the galaxy?

[@geyotepilkington2892]

@@passwordyeah729 Welp we got it figured out, time to pack up boys.

[@13Odrade]

Ooohh that nice music, I missed it ! Thanks for sharing !

[@phoenixpinkmyn5535]

Incredible, I know a lot about the tree of life and I still feel like I'm discovering entire strange new arms every day

[@arichdagamer7977]

Purple orb: *Silent* Crab: AYE! I WANNA GET IN THE SHOT TOO!!!!!!

[@GGMEHD]

I love that I'm seeing duct tape of all things on the ocean floor

[@aev6075]

This channel is filled with the grossest-cool stuff ever.

[@adddieptai4293]

Must be so fun to have a group of humorous scientists to work with.

[@winstonsmith478]

Meanwhile, back at the lab: screencrush.com/442/files/2015/03/The-Blob.jpg

[@RayVal53]

True story!

[@CavangoVulgora]

lol

[@euphoriaz870]

omg I need part 2 of this!! How could you end it here?!!! What happened afterwards? Did they poke it? Was alien coming out of it? Was it just a sack of something??? What Was it?!!!!!! Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!

[@feather6615]

I know!!! I read a few articles and did some research, but it doesn't look like it's been identified. The scientists sent a DNA sample to Harvard. They think its a type of sea slug.

[@julienvasquezphotographyll8900]

This channel is exactly what I need to help with all my under water curiosities!

[@bensiagel]

As cool as the videos are, I keep coming back for the commentary. They're hilarious!

[@MarinusMakesStuff]

Imagine that was the first and only one of it's species.

[@belfieldj]

What was it?

[@gabrielcampos5495]

She thinks its some sort of cnidarian kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqLcfKWsoJWUkNEm55s

[@jomanom8651]

+Gabriel Campos on the live website, they think it is a type of nudibranch and could possibly be one of the first purple nudibranch to be discovered.

[@jomanom8651]

+Nivvy discovered in california**

[@Joseph3391399]

1:30 looks like it's snowing underwater, super dreamy with the pretty purple ball

[@crissyolivia3040]

Duct tape is one of mankind's greatest inventions, if it can save lives in space and on earth, that's more than what most humans can do.

[@peoplez129]

The depths people will go to get a Charizard

[@reallivebluescat]

Literally

[@haansworsie]

Duct tape on your vacuum cleaner hose? really!!

[@MissTrinidad]

Well buy them another one Einstein. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Case closed! 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@Seventeen_Seconds]

I honestly can't believe this channel doesn't even have half a million subscribers.

[@Shastavalleyoutdoorsman]

I'm kind of amazed you guys don't have a more gentle extraction process. The old shop vac seems a bit destructive.

[@shartbake1134]

It would be so cool to do stuff like this. I have tons of experience using lots of different types of controls on video games and such, I know I have the manual dexterity and sensitive articulation required to capture creatures without harming them.

[@noctdevilc7208]

Read from comments that it's a nudibranch... But why is it soooo Bally?

[@rearealovesyuu]

I was wondering the same thing!!!!!

[@AngryKittens]

I remember having this same reaction on first seeing a veronicellid. I had absolutely no idea what it was.

[@AngryKittens]

@Stephanie Logan Nope it's a family of land slugs. Often with no visible feelers, so they look like oval alien worms.

[@Mirandorl]

I like the guy that makes nerd jokes that everyone goes quiet after. I can relate to him.