## Underwater Robot Live Stream Mesmerizes Argentines, Highlighting Scientific Discovery and Funding Challenges **News Title:** The Bright Side: Underwater robot live stream mesmerizes Argentines **Report Provider:** France 24 (with AFP) **Date of Publication:** August 3, 2025 **Relevant News Identifiers:** URL: `https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250803-the-bright-side-underwater-robot-live-stream-mesmerizes-argentines` --- ### Overview An Argentine-American scientific mission is captivating the public through a live YouTube stream of an underwater robot exploring the Mar del Plata canyon in the South Atlantic. The expedition, named "Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon," is providing unprecedented real-time insights into previously unseen marine life and underwater landscapes. While the public is enthralled, the mission also highlights significant funding challenges faced by Argentina's scientific research sector. --- ### Key Findings and Discoveries * **Exploration of Mar del Plata Canyon:** The mission is the first to explore the Mar del Plata canyon, a submarine gorge plunging nearly 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) deep off the coast of Mar del Plata, Argentina. * **Vibrant and Unseen Marine Life:** The robot, named SuBastian, is transmitting images of vibrant coral and fish never seen before in this region. Scientists have observed cold-water corals with colors comparable to those in the Caribbean, even at depths of 3,000 meters. * **Unique Underwater Ecosystem:** The confluence of the cold, nutrient-rich Malvinas current and the warm, salty Brazil current creates an "energetic region" teeming with marine wildlife and flora, described as an "underwater oasis." * **Public Engagement:** The live stream has achieved remarkable public engagement, exceeding one million views per day since Thursday, August 1, 2025, and is also being broadcast on television. The interactive nature of the stream, with scientists explaining discoveries and viewers influencing sample collection, has made science accessible and engaging. * **Notable Sightings and Nicknames:** * A "weird-looking, little white animal" was collected for study after overwhelming public demand in the live chat. * An orange starfish with two symmetrical bumps resembling buttocks gained significant attention, prompting comparisons to the character Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants, making marine biology a trending topic on social media. * Other creatures were affectionately nicknamed, including a king crab dubbed "Drag Queen" and a sea cucumber called "Sweet Potato." --- ### Key Statistics and Metrics * **Depth of Exploration:** The Mar del Plata canyon plunges nearly **4,000 meters (13,000 feet)** deep. * **Robot's Descent Capability:** The SuBastian robot can descend to a depth of **4,500 meters (14,700 feet)**. * **Expedition Duration:** The expedition is a **20-day** mission. * **Team Size:** The expedition involves **25 scientists**, predominantly from Argentina's research agency CONICET. * **Live Stream Views:** The live stream exceeded **one million views per day** since Thursday, August 1, 2025. --- ### Important Recommendations * While not explicitly stated as recommendations, the success of the live stream underscores the value of public outreach and accessible science communication. --- ### Significant Trends or Changes * **Democratization of Science:** The live stream is fostering a trend where science is becoming less distant and more integrated into everyday life, allowing the public direct access to scientific exploration. * **Public Fascination with Marine Biology:** The overwhelming public response indicates a growing interest and fascination with marine biology and deep-sea exploration. --- ### Notable Risks or Concerns * **Funding Threats to Scientific Research:** A significant concern raised is the threat to funding for such scientific expeditions in Argentina. * **CONICET's Underfunding:** CONICET, Argentina's government scientific research arm, is facing severe underfunding under President Javier Milei's administration. * **Budget Cuts:** The budget for CONICET fell by **21 percent** last year. * **Salary Reductions:** Salaries for scientists have plummeted by **35 percent** since President Milei took office in December 2023. * **Exodus of Scientists:** These cuts have led to an exodus of scientists from the country. * **"Beacon of Light" Amidst Difficulties:** The popular broadcast is seen as a "beacon of light" amidst a "very difficult time" for science in Argentina, both financially and in terms of support and human resources. --- ### Material Financial Data * **CONICET Budget Reduction:** **21%** decrease in budget last year. * **CONICET Salary Reduction:** **35%** decrease in salaries since December 2023. --- ### Expedition Details * **Mission Name:** "Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon" * **Lead Organization:** Part of the GEMPA deep sea study group, with support from the US Schmidt Ocean Institute. * **Ship:** Schmidt Ocean Institute's "Falkor (too)" * **Robot:** SuBastian underwater robot * **End Date:** August 10, 2025 * **Key Personnel:** Expedition leader Daniel Lauretta, marine biologist and painter Pablo Penchaszadeh.
The Bright Side: Underwater robot live stream mesmerizes Argentines
Read original at France 24 →A robot explores the dark, cold, deep sea floor of the South Atlantic, transmitting images of vibrant coral and fish never seen before as scientists give live commentary via YouTube. And Argentines can't get enough of it. The Argentine-American scientific mission is for the first time exploring the Mar del Plata canyon, a submarine gorge which plunges nearly 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) deep, off the coast of the seaside resort of the same name.
The awed conversations between scientists leading the expedition and the explanations they give to viewers allow the public a rare insight into the hidden wonders of marine biology. In one instance, the camera on the SuBastian underwater robot shows a weird-looking, little white animal. One of the scientists on the team can be heard asking her colleagues, "Do we want it?"
To display this content from , you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement."Yes, yes, we want it!" reply dozens of messages in the live stream chat before the image shows the suction device being activated to suck up the specimen for study. "Oh, I love these little creatures," says one user.
"I'm obsessed!" comments another. "Don't take the little one away!" pleads a third. The live stream began a week ago and exceeded one million views per day since Thursday, when it also began to be broadcast on television. "There are cold-water corals with the same colors as those in the Caribbean. How can that be?
At a depth of 3,000 meters!" Pablo Penchaszadeh, a marine biologist and painter who is on board the expedition as an artist, told AFP. Patrick Star The 20-day expedition "Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon" involves 25 scientists -- most of them from the Argentine research agency CONICET.
Part of the GEMPA deep sea study group, with support from the US Schmidt Ocean Institute, it will end on August 10. Aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's "Falkor (too)" ship, scientists remotely operate the robot, which can descend to a depth of 4,500 meters (14,700 feet). They collect biological samples with its robotic arms and other instruments, and send back high-definition images.
"The fact that anyone can connect from home and see what we are seeing live is a unique opportunity," explains expedition leader Daniel Lauretta in a statement. "Science is no longer something distant or inaccessible, but becomes part of everyday life." A sea star at 1195 metres of depth at the Mar del Plata Canyon in the Argentine Sea, in the Atlantic Ocean about 300 Km off Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
© Handout, Schmidt Ocean Institute / ROV SuBastian via AFP This week, social media users were delighted when an orange starfish with two symmetrical bumps resembling buttocks appeared on the live stream. It quickly prompted comparisons with Patrick Star, from the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants.
Memes circulated joking that "Patrick is Argentine," marine biology became a trending topic on social media, and the broadcast reached the screens of hundreds of thousands of captivated viewers. "I came to see the big-bottomed star, is it here?" asked one user upon entering the YouTube chat. Spectators also gave other sea creatures nicknames: a king crab was dubbed "Drag Queen," and sea cucumber was fondly called "Sweet Potato."
'Beacon of light' This is the first time that human eyes -- albeit remotely -- have seen this underwater oasis in real time, where the cold, nutrient-rich Malvinas current and warm, salty Brazil current converge. The confluence is "one of the most energetic regions in our global Ocean," according to the website of the Schmidt Institute, with the temperature difference creating an area teeming with marine wildlife and flora.
"We are already seeing incredible things: animals that have never been recorded in this area, underwater landscapes that look like something from another planet, and behaviors that surprise even the most experienced scientists," said Lauretta. But funding for such expeditions is under threat in Argentina.
A shrimp (Caridea) at 1271 metres of depth at the Mar del Plata Canyon in the Argentine Sea, in the Atlantic Ocean about 300 Km off Mar del Plata, Argentina. © Handout/Schmidt Ocean Institute / ROV SuBastian via AFP CONICET, the government's scientific research arm, has been severely underfunded by libertarian President Javier Milei, who has implemented draconian cuts to public spending with his infamous "chainsaw."
Its budget fell by 21 percent last year, salaries have plummeted by 35 percent since the Milei took office in December 2023, and the cuts have led to an exodus of scientists. As a result, in between "oohs" and "aahs" of wonder, messages of support are flooding the live stream's chat: "Long live Conicet!"
. "Seeing people being passionate about their job is attractive," said Tomas Atilio Luppi, a biologist at the CONICET-affiliated marine and coastal research institute in Mar del Plata, who is not directly involved in the campaign. "This is happening at a very difficult time," he told AFP of the popular broadcast. "Science is in a very complicated position, both financially and in terms of support and human resources." "The fact that this craze is happening is like a beacon of light." (FRANCE 24 with AFP)
