A huge discovery. Scientists near the Solomon Islands came across the largest coral in the world – Earth – Science and technology

Scientists have discovered the largest coral in the world near the Pacific Solomon Islands, and on Thursday they informed the public about this significant find, which they say is “pulsating with life and color”. AFP writes about it.

The coral is so huge that researchers sailing in the crystalline waters of the Solomon Islands initially thought they had stumbled upon a massive shipwreck. “Just when we thought there was nothing more to explore on planet Earth, we came across a giant coral composed of nearly a billion tiny polyps, pulsating with life and color,” said marine ecologist Enric Sala.

The researchers said this single structure grew for about 300 years and was formed from an “intricate network” of tiny coral polyps. They explained that it is different from a coral reef, which is made up of many distinct colonies of corals.

The team said the “mega coral”, which measures 34 meters wide and 32 meters long, is three times larger than the previous record holder – a coral called Big Momma in American Samoa. “Whereas Big Momma looked like a giant scoop of ice cream tipped onto a reef, this newly discovered coral is as if the ice cream started to melt and spread across the sea floor forever,” said lead scientist Molly Timmers.

The coral is longer than a giant wren and we thought it was “so huge” that it could “be seen from space,” she added. The coral was discovered on the southeastern tip of the Solomon Islands in an area known as the Three Sisters. He was spotted by the magazine’s team National Geographicwho went on a scientific expedition to this area.

Hotter and more acidic oceans have depleted coral life in many of the region’s tropical waters, including Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef. However, the latest discovery offers at least a little hope, according to the research team. “While nearby shallow reefs have been degraded by warmer seas, witnessing this large healthy coral oasis in slightly deeper waters is a beacon of hope,” said coral expert Eric Brown.

The lush rainforests and pristine waters of the Solomon Islands have long been prized for their ecological diversity. Observations of wildlife in the Solomon Islands in the 1920s helped prove a key part of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

“There is still much to learn about the richness of marine life and the ocean ecosystem, but this discovery opens the door to knowledge,” said Solomon Islands diplomat Collin Beck. “More scientific research is needed to better understand our rich biodiversity and our planet,” he added.