What is it like to go shopping at 2,774 meters below the sea?

She once rode a "Jiaolong" into the ocean to "catch the sea"

He also took the Snow Dragon twice to break ice in Antarctica to "hunt for treasure"

The first in China

Combining deep ocean diving and polar scientific research

Female researcher with two experiences

She is Tang Limei

Recently, the Second Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources

Associate Researcher Tang Limei

In the CCTV youth sharing program **@Youth2023**

Telling about her experience of exploring the natural secrets of the earth

Sharing her understanding of "pleasing oneself"

In 2013, Tang Limei took the Jiaolong manned submersible to the Caiwei Seamount under the western Pacific Ocean for an investigation, becoming China's first female scientist to conduct a deep-ocean dive on the Jiaolong.

When conducting deep ocean dives, there were only three people in Tang Limei's submersible, which also had high-definition filming systems, photo systems, life support systems and other equipment. Due to the small space, Tang Limei basically half-knelt in front of the observation window to observe, record and take pictures when performing operations.

Tang Limei recalled that the first time she looked at the sea surface from underwater, the sunlight shone through, glowing white in the azure blue. As the Jiaolong continued to dive, the sunlight disappeared and the world became pitch black.

When the Jiaolong reached 350 meters, luminous creatures appeared. Some were like shooting stars passing by in front of the ship, some were like strings of fireflies floating by, and some were like brilliant fireworks, blooming wantonly beside the submersible.

This survey allowed Tang Limei to see a lot of deep-sea creatures. After returning, she recorded them in her work diary based on her memory:

"The sessile organisms on the seabed are the most amazing. They have roots and grow on the seabed like flowers. Some are crystal clear and pure, like the Tianshan Snow Lotus."

"There is also a kind of sponge that looks like a stocking, but it is extremely white, light and translucent, as if it were woven with strands of silver thread."

"The most unforgettable thing was a kind of anemone I had never seen before. Inside its body lived a hermit crab, with its red claws sticking out and its body inside, crawling forward with the anemone..."

Tang Limei said that those were the fastest 4.5 hours in her life. Not only did she not see enough, but she also did not bring enough samples. In the end, she "caught the sea" and "crazily bought" at a depth of 2,774 meters in the ocean, bringing back 8 liters of near-bottom water samples, 11 rocks, 2 tubes of sediment, and 11 kinds of biological samples, including cold-water corals, anemones, sea urchins, starfish, brittle stars, and hermit crabs.

Although the wonders you see are impressive, the efforts behind them are even more unforgettable.

The Jiaolong can dive for 10 hours each time, and no toilet breaks are allowed during the dive. This is difficult for ordinary people to do, but Tang Limei thinks it is a piece of cake.

"I only had a boiled egg and a few biscuits in the morning. I didn't dare drink a drop of water. After all, it was a luxury to put a toilet in a small cabin. I even hid the water cup before the trip to fight my physiological instinct to drink water. "

After returning from the deep sea, Tang Limei did not stop there, and continued her exploration and scientific research into the ice-covered Antarctic.

The spectacular topography and rich, fresh rock samples on the Antarctic continent made Tang Limei extremely focused and excited.

As a scientist who can legally collect rock samples, she wants to collect samples whenever she comes across a rare geological phenomenon or section: "I travel thousands of miles to collect samples in the wild. Of course, I am determined to collect more samples, as they are the source of results."

Tang Limei crossed the "Devil's Westerly Belt" four times. This is the area between 45° and 60° south latitude. The wind and waves are particularly strong. The crew members specially made up a jingle, which goes "no words, dull eyes, no meals, weak limbs, internal organs are in turmoil, lying in bed for a long time, very uncomfortable."

During that period, even if the crew members were lying in bed, they had to hold on to the edge of the bed tightly, otherwise they would probably fall off.

These dangers have never stopped scientists from exploring unknown areas. Tang Limei's colleague once wrote in his diary: Every step we take in Antarctica may be the first footprint of mankind, or it may be the last step in our lives.

Leaving the mysterious deep sea and the distant Antarctica and returning to the daily scientific research work, Tang Limei will also face many practical problems.

Usually, she needs to study a lot of literature, track the frontiers of scientific research in this field, write academic papers and submit them for publication. After being rejected, she will revise and resubmit them until they are published. She also needs to constantly think about what the next scientific problem to be solved is, how to continue the existing research, and how to apply for the next research project.

**"In the world of scientific research, no matter it is happy and exciting, or difficult and trivial, they all carry my love and are experiences that I must go through", **When facing these trivialities, Tang Limei would also be anxious and depressed, but every time she looked back on the unforgettable experiences, she would regain strength. In the experience, the self who did his best and did his best because of his love was a more precious gain.

**“As long as we don’t lose ourselves, keep our passion and focus, experience things and try our best, we will have no regrets and face everything calmly”,** this is what Tang Limei now understands as “pleasing herself”.

Nowadays, Tang Limei is invited to share some popular science. When she goes to various schools to share popular science, she will tell students: **"** As long as you have passion, persistence, dedication, a clear conscience, and do your best, you can also gain a different view."

Source of this article: CCTV News WeChat Official Account (ID: cctvnewscenter) Comprehensive "@Youth2023", CCTV4 "Lu Jian Interview", Global People, etc.

Producer/Wang Xingdong Editor-in-chief/Chai Jing Zhang Zhida

"@Youth 2023" editing and directing team

Editor/Yu Zijing Coordinator/Zhang Qiaoxue

Proofreading/Zhang Tianyu

©CCTV News