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MBARI and FathomNet partners release new version of FathomVerse app

The new version of FathomVerse empowers dedicated FathomNauts to work alongside taxonomy experts to quickly put images labeled and localized by the FathomVerse community into the hands of scientists. Image: Calista Kerba © 2026 MBARI

MBARI and FathomNet partners release new version of FathomVerse app

Today, FathomVerse is releasing a suite of new features to expedite community-driven analysis of underwater imagery and accelerate ocean discovery. Developed by MBARI and partners in the FathomNet Program, the FathomVerse app engages ocean enthusiasts around the world to help improve the artificial intelligence tools researchers use to study the ocean.

Since the app’s release in 2024, more than 55,000 FathomVerse users—affectionately known as “FathomNauts”—have generated 28 million annotations, resulting in more than 100,000 annotated images shared via the open-access FathomNet Database for development of AI tools for ocean exploration. 

Three vertical dark blue screenshots illustrate a mini-game in the FathomVerse app. Each screenshot shows a grid of several images, some with a yellow box overlay and others with a red border and a red X. At the top and bottom of the screenshots are app icons.
In FathomVerse’s new Filter mini-game, FathomNauts sort and match images for focused, faster labeling of real scientific imagery. Image: © 2026 MBARI

With a new mini-game and more educational content, FathomVerse 3.0 expands the app’s offerings and lets users participate in the entire image annotation process from start to finish.

The latest update to FathomVerse introduces the new Filter mini-game that allows FathomNauts to annotate images faster and help taxonomy experts with verification. Denizen Mode within Filter will relieve bottlenecks slowing down the FathomVerse annotation pipeline by enlisting the most experienced FathomNauts to verify community annotations. 

FathomNauts are making important contributions to marine science that will help scientists achieve a bold mission of discovering all life in the ocean.

Read more from FathomVerse.

Join the FathomNaut community—download FathomVerse from the App Store or Google Play.


For additional information or images relating to this article, please email pressroom@mbari.org.