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Google Science Fair Hangout On Air: Meet the Deep-Sea-Diving Exosuit

Scientists studying marine life now have a new tool in a next-generation atmospheric diving system called the Exosuit. The suit–which looks like something an astronaut would wear and is on display at the American Museum of Natural History until March 5–lets a diver descend to 1,000 feet at surface pressure for several hours.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Vincent Pieribone, John Sparks, Exosuit and Mariette DiChristina. Credit: YouTube

Scientists studying marine life now have a new tool in a next-generation atmospheric diving system called the Exosuit. The suit–which looks like something an astronaut would wear and is on display at the American Museum of Natural History until March 5–lets a diver descend to 1,000 feet at surface pressure for several hours. As part of a series of Google Science Fair 2014 Hangout On Air Series, I chatted with John Sparks, curator and curator-in-charge, Department of Icthyology, American Museum of Natural History, and Vincent Pieribone, professor, Yale University School of Medicine; fellow, The John B. Pierce Laboratory; research associate, American Museum of Natural History; chief scientist, Stephen J. Barlow Bluewater Expedition. My favorite comment comes near the end, when Pieriborne says: “I’m just surprised everybody doesn’t want to be a scientist.” Find out why these researchers feel like it’s all play and no work in the video below.

 


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