MILLIONS OF VIEWERS FOLLOWS INCREDIBLE DEEP SEA EXHIBITION LIVESTREAMED FROM ARGENTINA

Not a newscast, influencer, or gamer's live stream is the most watched in Argentina. It's of a deep-sea voyage instead. Despite appearing to be a highly scholarly program that was seen by academics, it turned into a national pride project and social media sensation. Thousands of people from all around the world watch on YouTube every day in the hopes of catching a glimpse of a captivating aquatic animal. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated local scientists, the event has now sparked meaningful discussions, jokes, fan art, and poignant moments.

Researchers from Argentina and the United States are working together on the expedition, which is located off the coast of the vacation town of Mar del Plata. Scientists can now view what happens 13,000 feet below the surface thanks to the Schmidt Ocean Institute's SuBastian remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which is equipped with cutting-edge sensors and high-definition cameras. 25 scientists, the majority of them from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Argentina's primary organisation for advancing research and technology, are on board its partnership, the "Falkor (too)" ship. The effort has produced a high-definition livestream in which scientists provide in-the-moment commentary on the animals they discover and reveal the inner workings of these trips as they enthusiastically share their findings with their colleagues.

In addition to scores of other infrequently sighted deep-sea creatures, the team has discovered at least 40 previously undiscovered species. This has literally illuminated the South Atlantic's species, most of which marine biologists still don't understand. A "Marine Dumbo," a crystal-clear octopus, sea spiders, a "drag queen" king crab (because it was covered in tiny critters decorating its body), a violet sea cucumber known as "Batatita" (Little sweet potato), a translucent sea cucumber, a "ping pong tree sponge," and a handful of adorable baby octopi are some of the most fascinating creatures they have encountered (and have been given cute nicknames by the scientists or the general public).

The "big-butt starfish" has made the biggest impression of any species they have seen thus far, probably because it resembles Patrick Star from SpongeBob Squarepants. "I initially believed that Patrick's large butt was drawn by SpongeBob's designer to make him appear humorous, but there was a complete scientific reason for it in the end. An X user who was watching the webcast said, "There are moments when I forget that Stephen Hillenburg was a MARINE BIOLOGIST." According to the experts, the reason for the starfish's back end is probably because it is resting on a vertical rock, which causes gravity to drag its internal structure downward in that manner. (Or it can simply be a starfish that has been fed exceptionally well.)

None of the participating scientists could have imagined how successful the broadcast would be. The stream peaked at roughly 50,000 concurrent watchers, and people have been tuning in all day and all night. With just 1.6 million views for the most popular video, the total number of stream views to date is 11 million. Daniel Lauretta, the expedition leader, told the Associated Press, "It was a great surprise for us." "We are passionate about spreading the message; thus, it fills our hearts."

Both the crew and the domestic audience have experienced some emotional moments as a result of the voyage, which is called "Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon." In one case, a feather star specialist marine biologist was ecstatic to witness one of these animals alive and in its native environment for the first time. While a class of schoolchildren created a magazine on the recently found creatures, historian Matias Oberlin posted a photo of his toddler pointing at the TV during a livestream from home. Additionally, there have been tense scenes in the movie, such as when an animal broke out of the specimen collection box.

The results have also inspired a plethora of fan art and jokes. People on social media have compared Ross, the character from Monsters Inc. who is bugging Mike for not filing his paperwork, to a fish. Other pop culture references have also been included, including references to Finding Nemo and a bunch of lobsters that appear to be saying, "You shalt not pass!" in the style of The Lord of the Rings. In the meantime, artists have published their creations, which range from pixel art to tile patterns with maritime themes to an embroidered piece featuring Argentinean Patrick Star.

Since the livestream has spurred a public discussion on state-backed science, its reach is more crucial than before. The Argentine government just cut CONICET's budget by 21%, and the researchers' salaries have decreased by 35%. In the past 18 months, 4,000 jobs have been lost overall. According to researcher Sole Leonardi, "this is what science is like today: continuing to work without resources, with devalued incomes, attempting to protect what we have been able to construct, while feeling tremendously excited and proud of what we do."

Overall, the broadcast has offered a chance to learn and a time of solidarity. The event has been live-tweeting, and graphic designer Andrés Snitcofsky says, "I love how we are all getting involved in something we had no idea existed and become interested in it." "The core of humanity is knowledge for its own sake. What binds us together as a species is our exploration and knowledge of the world.