Mystery Golden Ball from Ocean Floor Solved: It's a Deep-Sea Creature's Shed Coating

Scientists solved a two-year puzzle in May 2026. A golden sphere found 2 miles down near Alaska in 2023 came from a rare giant anemone. The creature uses a golden shell to grip rocks on the seafloor. It sheds this shell when it moves or reproduces. The specimen is now in the Smithsonian's collection.