Fitzroy accurately mapped the continent of South America while Darwin made forays into the interior, studying the plant and animal life. He was so impressed with the variety of organisms, and their peculiar distributions, he began to formulate a hypothesis for their origin. Now thoroughly tested by generations of biologists and paleontologists, his hypothesis is known as the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. Sir John Murray sailed H.M.S. Challenger around the globe from 1872-1876. The staff scientists discovered 4,717 new species of organisms, including, for the first time, specimens from the deeps.
Next picture is of the laboratory onboard the ship.
The only research drilling vessel now in operation, it is funded by a consortium of oceanographic institutes who pool their money through the Ocean Drilling Program. Next is a lab photo. The Physical Properties lab onboard the Resolution is shown below, with a scientist probing a core of sediment to learn its 'thermal conductivity'-that is, how fast heat moves through the sediment. If you're interested in professional divers, what they do and what it takes to become one, click here . More on Underwater Archeology .