A researcher from the research vessel Kexue skips rope during the ocean expedition. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

After diving below 5,000 meters in the deep ocean, a plastic foam digital media player becomes compressed. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wang Zheng, the chief scientist, holds a multiparameter probe for measuring small-scale water stratification. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]