[bdbenton]

Most of the world's oceans remain unexplored. Underwater cave systems in particular have a lot of uncharted territory. It's dangerous work, but explorers are still finding new caves and naming them.

Underwater robotics makes this task a lot easier. It's interesting to think that most of the planet's surface is abyssal plain, the largest habitat on Earth, flat surfaces on the sea floor beyond the reach of sunlight.

Ocean exploration really sparks curiosity. We are in such a rush to leave our beloved blue planet and send people to uncharted frontiers, but we still have an unfinished frontier right below our noses. Marine exploration also coincides with environmental preservation, as oceans are made of the most vital, life-giving resource on the planet.

Something interesting you learn in SCUBA diving is that sound waves travel faster in water than in air. This makes it difficult for humans to discern the source of audio while underwater, but machines like this seem to emulate the sonar capabilities of underwater creatures.

Always fascinated by what the minds at MIT are working on.