While efforts are being made to contain the oil and predict it's path, other scientists work to figure out how much is spilling into the gulf.

The University of South Florida research ship set sail Wednesday morning to find the answer.

Ten scientists and three crew members will head to the middle of the Gulf of Mexico to study how much oil is being carried south by the current. hey will also study how much oil is on the surface and if millions of gallons of oil are hiding under water.