ScienceJuly 13, 2026
aquanaut
/ˈækwənɔːt/
Definition
A person who lives and conducts research in an underwater habitat for an extended period, similar to how an astronaut works in space.
Etymology
The word is a 20th-century coinage, blending the Latin 'aqua' (water) with the suffix '-naut' from the Greek 'nautēs' (sailor). It was created by analogy to 'astronaut' to describe individuals exploring the 'inner space' of the ocean depths.
In the news
In the article, the term refers to the scientists who will reside and perform research inside the Vanguard habitat on the seafloor. It highlights the challenging, space-like nature of living and working in an extreme, high-pressure underwater environment.
A New Habitat at the Bottom of the Ocean Is Waiting for Its First Aquanauts
Read the full article ↗ZME Science