Definition: A bathyscaphe is a type of deep-sea submersible vessel designed for underwater exploration at great depths.
Etymology & Origin: The term ‘bathyscaphe’ comes from the Greek words ‘bathys,’ meaning ‘deep,’ and ‘skaphos,’ meaning ‘ship.’ It was coined in the mid-20th century by the Swiss inventor Auguste Piccard, who developed the first bathyscaphe.
Examples:
- The bathyscaphe Trieste made a historic descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in 1960.
- Bathyscaphes are used by oceanographers to study marine life and geological formations at extreme depths.
- Advances in bathyscaphe technology have expanded our understanding of the deep ocean environment.