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Why do we Fear the Deep Sea?

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Would you learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers, comprehend its mystery!

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

In the 1843 the Abyssus Theory said that no marine life could exist below 550 meters. Now in 2024 we know that the theory is false but why do we still fear the unknown within the earth even though we are the dominant species on the same planet?

Thalassophobia means the fear of deep bodies of water which has become more common in 15% of the population or more and is known as a relatively common phobia. What causes this phobia in people, is it the imagination of what could be down there or is it the confusion on what kind of life lives in the places we can’t see?

Almost a century later after the Abyssus Theory was published, from 1930 to 1934 an American zoologist William Beebe and the American engineer Otis Barton created a vessel made for going into the unseen areas of the water that was named the Bathysphere, which was the beginning of deep dives into our planet’s waters to learn what is truly in the dark. This led to the discovery of a wide variety of new sea life being discovered, this life being translucent and glowing due to its dark of pressured environment.

The journey to the deep entered many minds and created many different entries into media through films, video games, and books. These introduced many new images and ideas like the thoughts of giant leviathan creatures lurking where we can’t see them or undiscovered beasts that could have hundreds of teeth and could be much larger than us.

As years pass many theories and guesses can be made to what is down there, but it will be a long road to discovery considering we have only reached about 5%.

What do you believe is down there?

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About the Contributors
Samuel Ortiz
Samuel Ortiz, Reporter
My name is Sam, and this is my first year of Journalism. I got all together a total of eight pets. I've been at Lakes High School for all 3 years, but I haven't always lived in Washington. I have moved Washington to Korea then from that to Germany then back to Washington. I am a Broncos, Suns, & Diamondbacks fan.
Jack Brewer
My name is Jack Brewer, I play basketball and baseball. This my first year of journalism and my third year at Lakes high school. I lived in Tacoma for 3 years of my life and the rest here in Lakewood. I'm a Golden State Warriors and a Seattle Seahawks fan.        

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