HYDROTHERMAL VENTS DISCOVERED

Scientists aboard the submersible, Alvin, discover and document incredible deep sea hydrothermal vents in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hot water pouring from these vents enriches the water with nutrients and provides food for bacteria and a host of other organisms. This discovery rocks the scientific community because, for the first time, an ecosystem has been found that thrives without the energy of the sun; instead, these ecosystems thrive on chemical energy through a process known as chemosynthesis.