--- title: "Scientists Puzzled by Strange Row of Holes on Ocean Floor" description: "NOAA Ocean Exploration scientists came across a series of organized sublinear holes on the Mid-Atlantic ocean floor, and it's unclear who or what made them." date: "2022-07-27" modified: "2022-07-27" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-strange-row-holes-ocean-floor" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "ocean" - "ocean exploration" - "ocean floor" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Puzzled by Strange Row of Holes on Ocean Floor ![NOAA Ocean Exploration scientists came across a series of organized sublinear holes on the Mid-Atlantic ocean floor, and it's unclear who or what made them.]() *\Image: NOAA\* ## Hole Story Over the weekend, a team of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ocean explorers came across something seriously unsettling lining the Mid-Atlantic ocean floor: a series of holes dug into the sandy seabed at seemingly regular intervals, as seen in footage taken by the NOAA's remotely operated submarine. "These holes have been previously reported from the region, but their origin remains a mystery," reads a [Facebook post]() by the team. "While they look almost human made, the little piles of sediment around the holes make them seem like they were excavated by... something." The bizarre holes were bored about 1.7 miles beneath the surface, right at the crest of an underwater volcano near the Azores. Clues as to what may have created the holes are scarce. The surrounding ocean floor was comparatively smooth. Besides, the depth at which the marks were made suggests that human involvement is incredibly unlikely. The incident goes to show just how little we know about the area — a vast, unexplored mountain ridge that lurks deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean's surface. ![]() ## Seafloor Mystery The scientists witnessed this strange sight during their Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, which [the NOAA describes]() as a quest to obtain some baseline information about vastly understudied — and mysterious — deepwater areas surrounding the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. "Stretching an impressive 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles), the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) is the longest mountain range in the world and one of the most prominent geological features on Earth," states the [mission's webpage](). "The majority of it sits underwater and thus much of it remains largely unexplored." ## Definitely Aliens Ocean-curious Facebook users had several fascinating theories to offer the perplexed researchers as to where the holes could be coming from. "I would say starfish doing cartwheels," wrote one [thoughtful Facebook commenter](). "I'm not saying it's aliens," [mused another](). "But it's aliens." As is [common with ocean exploration](), the process of discovery seems to have unlocked entirely new mysteries, baffling the scientists. It's a classic maritime whodunnit — and we're not ruling out cartwheeling starfish. **READ MORE:** [*'They look almost human made.' NOAA finds weird lines of holes in Mid-Atlantic floor*]() \[*The Miami Herald*\] **More on ocean oddities:** [*Sailors Say the Ocean Around Their Ship Started to Glow*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()