Researchers say our understanding of Earth’s largest biome is based on a tiny, unrepresentative sample dominated by just a few countries.

Deep-sea submersibles have been diving for decades, but records show that we have still only explored a tiny area of the deep seabed, which makes up the majority of Earth's topography

Across Earth's deep oceans, explorers have taken a look at an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, which isn't saying much. That works out to about 0.001% of the deep sea, according to a study published Wednesday in Science Advances.