Light of the Fourth Pole

[10th Realistic Fiction Online Literature Contest, Second Prize]

The ocean covers 71% of Earth's surface, but humans have explored only 5% of it.

The deep sea, Earth's fourth pole, is an even more mysterious and little-known realm, rich with untapped potential.

Zhao Rulan, a young scientist at the School of Marine and Earth Sciences at Donghai University, and her fellow marine scientists brave raging winds and towering waves to drill in the open ocean, dive thousands of meters beneath the surface, and build the DeepNet project to observe the seafloor. Their work makes an enormous contribution to the basic sciences underpinning China's deep-sea research, while also providing theory and support for global environmental protection, climate change research, resource exploration, and disaster warnings.

The light from Earth's fourth pole illuminates the path forward for human civilization. The sacrifices and dedication of scientists protect the peace of our everyday lives.