Autonomous sub explores unexplored trench depths to reveal critical mineral clues

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 08, 2025

A new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) has delivered the first images of an uncharted section of the seafloor near the Mariana Trench, in a mission led by the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI). This deep-sea exploration effort, supported by NOAA, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), marks the first operational use of the AUV develop