Skip to main content

Watch live as the NOAA explores the Marianas Trench with robotic submarines

As you’re reading this article, robotic submarines are buzzing around the Marianas Trench, learning more about this mysterious part of the Pacific Ocean and the ecosystem around it. Even cooler? You can watch it all via live-streaming video.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) told DigitalTrends that the live-streaming has been a regular part of its ocean research since 2010. Since its initial live-streamed mission to Indonesia, NOAA has conducted one or two missions each year using telepresence — but the Marianas mission appears to be one of its largest to date.

Recommended Videos

The expedition is actually three in one: The first runs through May 11 and focuses on mapping and surveying the ecosystem of the southern part of the trench; a second, starting May 20, will focus solely on mapping the northern section; and a final leg, June 17-July 10, will complete mapping of the northern region plus a full study of its ecosystem.

Studying lifeforms of the Marianas Trench is something scientists have wanted to do for awhile. At its deepest point, the Trench has a depth of over 36,000 feet — the deepest part in the world. With such depth comes all kinds of unique creatures, some of which NOAA hopes to learn more about — including around the Trench itself, which the equipment unfortunately isn’t designed to enter.

Our remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Deep Discoverer, can reach a depth of 6,000 meters, which is about the depth at which the trench begins,” a spokesperson told us. That means the crazier life forms that have been found in previous Marianas missions are likely out of reach.

Of course this is not to say the researchers will not find anything exciting. In the first days of the project, at least one new life form was discovered leaving researchers in awe. Cameras spotted some type of never-before-seen jellyfish that looks like a spider stuffed with a ring of lightbulbs. We’re sure to find more: A lot of the research will revolve around life near hydrothermal vents and undersea volcanoes, which, until recently were thought too hostile for life.

NOAA will provide a live feed of the study throughout the project, although the last four hours at any given point will be archived for you to peruse. We have tuned in from time to time and also found narration to the pictures you’re seeing and discussion from scientists, so plan to learn something while you watch.

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more
Charlie Cox singles out his least favorite Daredevil: Born Again episode
Charlie Cox in Daredevil: Born Again.

Daredevil: Born Again season 1 was largely reconceived after the 2023 actor and writer strikes. Dario Scardapane -- a veteran of The Punisher series on Netflix -- was brought in to be the new showrunner and he made a lot of changes to the series that were well-received. However, there's one episode that Scardapane didn't really change at all, and it happens to be the least favorite episode of Daredevil: Born Again's leading man, Charlie Cox.

During an appearance on The Playlist, Cox noted that he wasn't very fond of the season's fifth episode, "With Interest," which was a largely standalone episode that featured his character, Matt Murdock, in a bank during a hostage crisis.

Read more