As we set our sights on other planets and stars as the next great adventure for mankind, we have only yet managed to explore less than 5 per cent of the world’s oceans. Fabien Cousteau, grandson of famed explorer Jacques Cousteau, lead a ground-breaking (and record-breaking) trip to the bottom of the ocean this summer, living for 31 days in a deep sea laboratory.
What he saw there was fascinating and, with the aid of modern photography equipment, he was able to supplement his research with eye-opening slow motion video clips of rarely-seen marine life. From the bullet-like punch of the mantis shrimp to the telescopic movements of "Christmas Tree Worms", it’s all documented in a great TED talk, which you can view embedded below.
For Cousteau, the ultimate goal is to prove the feasibility of a city built beneath the sea. While fans of Bioshock or The Abyss may question whether or not that’s such a good idea, those looking to explore an alien world may want to turn their attentions to these incredible sights a little closer to home.