Hydrothermal Vents

Deep-sea chimneys where life runs on chemistry instead of sunlight — found only in 1977.

Core Principles & Analysis

• The 1977 Alvin dives at the Galápagos Rift found dense ecosystems nobody predicted.
• Chemosynthetic microbes oxidize vent sulfide, feeding giant tube worms with no gut.
• Black smokers jet mineral-laden water at temperatures near 400 °C.

Specifications & Metrics

• COVERAGE: Mid-ocean ridges