Scientists have found that deep-sea mining machines reduce the number of seabed animals by 37%. This study, the largest of its kind, was done by the Natural History Museum, UK National Oceanography Centre, and University of Gothenburg. It focused on a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. The researchers discovered over 4,000 animals there, 90% of which were new species. The testing involved machines driving 80 kilometers on the seabed. Scientists compared animal numbers two years before and two months after mining. They studied creatures between 0.3mm and 2cm, including worms, sea spiders, snails, and clams. Lead author Eva Stewart said, "The machine removes about the top five centimetres of sediment. That's where most of the animals live. So obviously, if you're removing the sediment, you're removing the animals in it too." Dr. Guadalupe Bribiesca-Contreras added, "Even if they are not killed by the machine, pollution from the mining operations could slowly kill some less resilient species." Near the mining tracks, where sediment settled, animal numbers did not drop much but species dominance changed. Dr. Adrian Glover said, "We're encouraged by these data." The Metals Company, which requested the research, said any impact is limited to the mined area. However, experts worry the damage is significant. Dr. Patrick Schröder warned, "Current technologies for harvesting are too damaging to permit large-scale commercial exploration." Deep-sea mining targets mineral-rich nodules in a 6 million sq km Pacific zone. These minerals like nickel and cobalt are crucial for green energy tech such as solar panels and electric cars. The International Energy Agency expects demand to double by 2040. Mining in international waters is currently banned until more is known about environmental impacts. Thirty-seven countries support a temporary ban. Norway recently postponed mining plans. Meanwhile, the US wants to speed up mining for national security. The study was published in Nature Ecology and Evolution and highlights the urgent need to balance mineral needs with protecting ocean life.