Sponges and sediment are both areas where there is the potential for exciting discovery of previously unknown compounds that may help society. Here is an image of a deep-sea glass sponge next to a small pocket of what appear to be seep clams. Further pointing to the widespread nature of seeps, this was just a pocket of three clams in an otherwise veritable forest of sponges and corals, with no other obvious signs of seepage nearby.
Glass Sponge
Image courtesy of Image courtesy of Oregon State University, Ocean Exploration Trust, NOAA OCNMS, and NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Download larger version (jpg, 1.6 MB).

Sponges and sediment are both areas where there is the potential for exciting discovery of previously unknown compounds that may help society. Here is an image of a deep-sea glass sponge next to a small pocket of what appear to be seep clams. Further pointing to the widespread nature of seeps, this was just a pocket of three clams in an otherwise veritable forest of sponges and corals, with no other obvious signs of seepage nearby.

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