White and red tube worms reach up from the deep sea floor.

Making a Mark on the Ocean Floor

A map of the Mid Ocean Ridge

July 2016

Mapping the Seafloor

Learn about one scientist's pursuit of creating one of the first maps of the seafloor.

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Featured Content

the titanic underwater

Video

The Titanic Wrecksite

A screenshot from the video "Integrated Ocean Drilling Program" showing the front of a research vessel moving through water.

Video

Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

Screenshot from video of an aerial view of the ocean drilling vessel Chikyu.

Video

The Ocean Drilling Vessel Chikyu

Seamounts: Underwater Oases

Colorful corals and brittlestars on Manning Seamount off the New England coast.

December 2009

It is estimated that the March 11, 2011 earthquake in Japan was 1,000 times more powerful than the quake that struck Haiti in 2010. Watch as Smithsonian geologist Dr. Liz Cottrell explains this and more about the major earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Video

Understanding the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Ocean, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help you engage your students in the wonders of our oceans.

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The Seafloor Articles

The Discovery of Two Extreme Sea Stars

Two new species of sea stars were discovered in the deep sea: Paulasterias tyleri (on the left) in a North Pacific hydrothermal vent community, and Paulasterias mcclaini (on the right) in the deep sea off the coast of Antarctica.

May 2015

How the Ocean Floor Helped Seal the Deal for Plate Tectonics

A multi-colored map of the mid-Atlantic ride made from satellite imagery.

June 2022

On August 23, 2011 a 5.8 earthquake emanated from the little-known Central Virginia Seismic Zone. The epicenter was near Mineral, VA, but the tremor shook homes, schools, and office buildings in Washington, DC and beyond. In this brief video, Smithsonian e

Video

Demonstrating an Earthquake's Seismic Waves

A variety of corals cling to Manning Seamount, just off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Slideshow

Seamounts, A Deep-Sea Habitat

Intense volcanic CO2 vents in Ili Ili Bua Bua, Normanby Island, Papua New Guinea.

Slideshow

Will Coral Reefs Survive Acidification?

a pink coral

Video

Corals in the Juan de Fuca Canyon and the Davidson Seamount

A screenshot from the video showing red and white tube worms.

Video

Hydrothermal Vent Creatures

A deep sea crab (Rochinia crassa) poses with sea fan (Callogorgia spp.) and coral (Lophelia pertusa) on large carbonate boulder.

Slideshow

Oil Invades Coral Communities of the Deep

Island Ecosystem Transformation via Lava

An aerial view of the Hawaii's shore with lava flowing into the ocean from Kilauea volcano.

October 2018

Seamounts: Underwater Oases

Colorful corals and brittlestars on Manning Seamount off the New England coast.

December 2009

The Microbes That Keep Hydrothermal Vents Pumping

Riftia tubeworm (Riftia pachyptila) colonies near hot spring.

March 2016

Zombie Worms Crave Bone

red worms penetrate holes in bone

June 2013