Angles: Which calls for prioritized research: the ocean or space?

In a world of constant exploration, discovery and limited funding, what deserves more research?

Humanity has been reaching for the stars since we first tilted our heads back to look up at the night sky, and we’ve plumbed the depths of the ocean since we first felt the rock of its waves. 

Each has potential for major discoveries surrounding climate change, disaster prevention or even unknown lifeforms. 

In a scenario where only one exploration could be funded, it’s hard to say which we should prioritize. 

Some argue that we need to understand all that Earth has to offer before jetting off to distant planets. While we search for extraterrestrial life, we’re missing the vast amount of life that lies just beneath the surface — species that may be crucial to scientific discovery in biology and even medicine.

Others say that because of the technology we have available, space exploration may prove more accessible and safer than the depths of the oceans. Additionally, studying other planets could help us understand the impacts we’re having on our own. 

Read the compelling arguments two students make about exploration below.

Elsa Friesen, Forum Editor

Dive Deeper

Mira Neumann is a freshman biology major.

Think about how much we have already explored space. We have been to the moon, landed rovers on Mars and built space stations to continuously study space. Films like “The Martian,” “Project Hail Mary,” “Interstellar” and “Apollo 13” celebrate space exploration and the unknown. 

Although fictional, these movies contribute to the well-known idea that space is an endless frontier worth exploring. But can we truly say we have thoroughly explored the depths of our own oceans? 

While movies like “Jaws” and “The Abyss” depict the ocean’s mysteries, they are less grand in scope compared to the idea of space exploration, even though these mysteries sit right in front of us. 

The ocean, which covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, remains largely unexplored. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that only 28.7% of the seafloor has been mapped using high-resolution geospatial technology. 

What’s even crazier is that humans have visually observed less than 0.001% of the deep ocean floor. We possess more detailed images of Mars — which is thousands of miles away — than of the vast areas of our own planet’s underwater landscape.

Familiarity may make the ocean less interesting to us, but it contributes more than people may realize to scientific discovery. For many people, such as fishermen or marine biologists, it’s their main source of income. 

Ocean exploration has already led to many groundbreaking discoveries that directly benefit life on Earth. Scientists studying marine organisms have identified compounds with antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties. These discoveries are important because scientists estimate that there may be between 700,000 and 1 million marine species, with roughly two-thirds still undiscovered.

Beyond providing new biological and medical discoveries, ocean exploration is essential for understanding one of Earth’s most immediate challenges: climate change. 

The ocean plays a major role in regulating the Earth’s climate and storing carbon dioxide. Researchers map the seafloor to examine ocean circulation, pollution, habitats and areas vulnerable to environmental change. Studying what goes on beneath the surface can help scientists understand how to protect our planet above the water.

Exploring the ocean, of course, is not easy. Most of the time, these explorers are surrounded by constant darkness, very cold temperatures and immense pressure, both literally and figuratively.

Unlike space travel which requires millions of miles and years of waiting for a spacecraft to reach its destination, ocean research is far more expeditious as deep-sea submersibles can reach the ocean floor in just a few hours.  

Rocket launches and loud celebrations of victory made space exploration a symbol of discovery. Ocean exploration does not always receive that same excitement, despite offering the same opportunities to explore the unknown and make groundbreaking discoveries.

Although space is worth exploring, we don’t always need to reach for the stars. The unknown is already at our fingertips — sometimes it just means looking down instead of up. 

To the Final Frontier

Sarina Ellenbecker is a freshman English and legal studies major.

This summer I watched “Project Hail Mary.” The film follows Dr. Ryland Grace  traveling through space to save humanity from the Earth freezing over. The movie was incredible and brought me to tears.

What I found most compelling is that it exposes the delicate equilibrium of life on Earth. 

In recent years, there has been increased skepticism concerning the value of space exploration. 

Many wonder why we continue to invest in space research when we know so little about the oceans on our own planet. One of the most prominent arguments is that space exploration is highly inaccessible and difficult to fund. Wouldn’t it be easier to explore the ocean? 

While both are important in expanding scientific knowledge and require funding, I believe that space exploration is especially crucial. Humans have been gazing at the stars for most of history. In fact, records date back 30,000 years. We shouldn’t stop at watching them — we should continue to explore them.

When studying these extreme environments, physicists examine the effects of atmospheric pressure. Space has an extremely low atmospheric pressure relative to Earth. 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the deepest part of the ocean is approximately 10,935 meters deep. Pressure increases about one atmosphere for every 10 meters of water depth. At a depth of 5,000 meters the pressure will be approximately 500 times greater than the pressure at sea level.

5,000 meters is not even half the ocean’s depth.

In terms of atmospheric pressure, it is more manageable to travel through space than through the deep ocean. 

Space exploration provides many opportunities that ocean exploration cannot. In 2020, an asteroid called 1998 OR2 narrowly missed Earth. Although it did not collide with Earth, it raised concern for future generations. With this knowledge, NASA has been working on preventing future impacts, even if they don’t happen in our lifetime.

One of the most important reasons we should invest in space exploration is to study climate change. NASA suggests  that astrobiology — the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe — can help us learn about and maybe even understand the origins of life on Earth. In doing so, we can discover ways to protect it.

“Exploring Mars helps scientists learn about momentous shifts in climate that can fundamentally alter planets,” writes Nadia Drake, an award-winning science journalist. She adds that a once ocean-covered Mars experienced climate change that brought it to a desert state. 

Mars is only one example of the benefits of studying space. Satellites and other technologies allow scientists to study solar radiation, the ocean’s height, monitor ice loss and more. 

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not wait until we are facing a “Project Hail Mary” type of crisis to fix our climate. 

Reach for the stars. As Rocky would say, “great words of encouragement!”