Scientists have made an unexpected underwater discovery in the Pacific Ocean.
During an expedition near Hawaii’s Liliʻuokalani Ridge Seamounts, researchers spotted something unusual on the ocean floor. Using a remotely operated vehicle, they found a rock formation that looked just like a yellow brick road.
The team was studying the formation of seamounts—underwater mountains formed by volcanic activity. Scientists still don’t fully understand how thousands of these seamounts in the central and western Pacific were created.
But while exploring, they came across something that looked man-made. The rocks were rectangular and neatly arranged, resembling a paved pathway.
Their live-streamed reactions showed their surprise.
One researcher said:
“It’s the road to Atlantis.”
Another added:
“The yellow brick road?”
A third voice reacted in disbelief:
“This is bizarre. Are you kidding me? This is crazy!”
For a moment, it looked like an ancient secret had been uncovered. But scientists quickly explained what they had found.
The rock formation was actually a type of volcanic rock called hyaloclastite. It forms when lava erupts underwater in a high-energy event, breaking into fragments that settle on the seabed.
Over time, heating and cooling stress caused the rock to crack into rectangular shapes, making it look like a man-made path.
The discovery was live-streamed by the Nautilus vessel, which is operated by the nonprofit Ocean Exploration Trust. Their mission allows people around the world to watch deep-sea explorations in real time.
This wasn’t the only strange thing they had found.
Earlier that year, while exploring Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge, they recorded a rare anglerfish. This deep-sea fish had sharp teeth and an expression that looked like it was grinning at the camera.
A statement from Nautilus Live read:
“This anglerfish… was first recorded over 1,000 meters deep and has hands down the coolest facial expression underwater.”
As for the yellow brick road, it may not lead to a lost city, but it does help scientists better understand the volcanic activity shaping the ocean floor.