I’ve never been there, but I’m told by reliable sources that the very bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean is covered in what’s called polymetallic nodules. These nodules are like potatoes in shape, but instead of starch, they are packed with all sorts of different metals: manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth metals.

These polymetallic potatoes in recent years have become seen as very valuable, and so, some companies want to mine the deep ocean bed in order to harvest them.