Proteus Unveiled: Fabien Cousteau’s Underwater ‘Space Station’ Could Revolutionize Ocean Research

Sixty feet below the surface of the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Curaçao, aquanaut Fabien Cousteau and industrial designer Yves Behar want to build the world's largest underwater research station and habitat. It could forever change how underwater research is done.
Their prototype, called Proteus, will be a 4,000-square-foot scientific lab four times larger and more technologically advanced than any underwater lab to date, said fuseproject, Behar's company.
It will house up to 12 scientists and researchers from across the globe at one time and is intended to be an underwater version of the International Space Station (ISS). Government agencies, scientists and the private sector will be able to collaborate "in the spirit of collective knowledge, irrespective of borders" to explore and research everything from new medicinal discoveries to food sustainability to the effects of climate change, reported CNN and a press release from Cousteau's Ocean Learning Center (FCOLC).
"As our life support system, the Ocean is indispensable to solving the planet's biggest problems. Challenges created by climate change, rising sea levels, extreme storms and viruses represent a multi-trillion-dollar risk to the global economy," Cousteau said in the release. "The knowledge that will be uncovered underwater will forever change the way generations of humans live up above."
The two-story circular, spiral structure is grounded to the ocean floor on stilts, with modular, protruding pods containing laboratories, personal quarters, medical bays and storage, said fuseproject. The largest pod contains a moon pool for divers to access the ocean floor and submersibles to dock with the underwater ISS, and all pods can be attached or detached to adapt to specific needs of the mission at hand. Proteus is powered by wind, solar and ocean thermal energy, and features the first underwater greenhouse for growing food, and wellness designs like windows for light and a ramp for exercise to make long-term underwater living more sustainable, CNN reported.
Underwater habitats allow scientists to perform continuous night and day diving without decompression between dives; they can stay underwater for days or weeks at a time, much like astronauts in the ISS, CNN reported. No longer fettered by limited oxygen supplies, dive logistics or the need to acclimate to changing pressures, scientists in Proteus should be able to complete 30 to 40 times the research than one having to continually surface would in the same time frame, Cousteau believes, reported Fast Company.
Proteus' onsite lab will facilitate the processing of organic samples in real time, rather than specimens rapidly degrading or dying on their way to the surface, the FCOLC release noted, and could lead to cleaner data. Proteus will also house a full-scale video production facility to provide continuous live streaming for educational programs.
Innovation comes at a price: $135 million, according to Fast Company.
Right now, the project is in the concept stage. If Cousteau can secure the funding, it will take three years before Proteus is installed, reported CNN.
"Like all big dreams, it will need further development," Béhar told Fast Company. "But one of the ways we've done fundraising in the last few months is by sharing this concept and sharing this dream."
Cousteau, whose famed grandfather Jacques-Yves Cousteau pioneered ocean exploration and scuba, hopes to eventually create a worldwide network of underwater research habitats to propel ocean exploration, reported CNN.
Though oceans cover 71% of the world's surface, NOAA estimates that humans have only explored about 5% and mapped less than 20%, reported CNN. Cousteau hopes Proteus will change that.
"Ocean exploration is 1,000 times more important than space exploration for — selfishly — our survival, for our trajectory into the future," Cousteau said, reported CNN. "It's our life support system. It is the very reason why we exist in the first place."
- Celebrate World Oceans Day From Home With the UN This Monday ... ›
- How Castro and Cousteau's Legendary Friendship Preserved ... ›
People across New England witnessed a dramatic celestial event Sunday night.
EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
By David Reichmuth
Over the last month, I've seen a number of opinion articles attacking electric vehicles (EVs). Sadly, this comes as no surprise: now that the Biden administration is introducing federal policies to accelerate the roll out of electric vehicles, we were bound to see a reaction from those that oppose reducing climate changing emissions and petroleum use.
The majority of EVs sold in 2020 were models with a starting price (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) under $40,000 and only a fifth of models had a starting price over $60,000.
Trending
Smoke from wildfires may be more harmful to public health than other sources of particulate matter air pollution, according to a new study.
On Friday, China set out an economic blueprint for the next five years, which was expected to substantiate the goal set out last fall by President Xi Jinping for the country to reach net-zero emissions before 2060 and hit peak emissions by 2030.
The Great Trail in Canada is recognized as the world's longest recreational trail for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Created by the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) and various partners, The Great Trail consists of a series of smaller, interconnected routes that stretch from St. John's to Vancouver and even into the Yukon and Northwest Territories. It took nearly 25 years to connect the 27,000 kilometers of greenway in ways that were safe and accessible to hikers. Now, thanks to a new partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee and AccessNow, the TCT is increasing accessibility throughout The Great Trail for people with disabilities.
Trans Canada Trail and AccessNow partnership for AccessOutdoors / Trails for All project. Mapping day at Stanley Park Seawall in Vancouver, British Columbia with Richard Peter. Alexa Fernando
<p>This partnership also comes at a time when access to outdoor recreation is more important to Canadian citizens than ever. <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200527/dq200527b-eng.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Studies from the spring of 2020</a> indicate that Canadian's <a href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/moneytalk-mental-health-during-covid-19-1.1567633" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">mental health has worsened</a> since the onset of social distancing protocols due to COVID-19. </p><p>The <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/safe-activities-during-covid19/art-20489385" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mayo Clinic</a> lists hiking, biking, and skiing as safe activities during COVID-19. Their website explains, "When you're outside, fresh air is constantly moving, dispersing these droplets. So you're less likely to breathe in enough of the respiratory droplets containing the virus that causes COVID-19 to become infected."</p><p>TCT leadership took this into consideration when embarking on the accessibility project. McMahon explains that there has never been a more important time to bring accessibility to the great outdoors: "Canadians have told us that during these difficult times, they value access to natural spaces to stay active, take care of their mental health, and socially connect with others while respecting physical distancing and public health directives. This partnership is incredibly important especially now as trails have become a lifeline for Canadians."</p><p>Together, these organizations are paving the way for better physical and mental health among all Canadians. To learn more about the TCT's mission and initiatives, check out their <a href="https://thegreattrail.ca/stories/" target="_blank">trail stories</a> and <a href="https://thegreattrail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/TCT_2020-Donor-Impact-Report_EN_8.5x14-web.pdf" target="_blank">2020 Impact Report</a>.</p>