July 31, 2025
It’s a unique ecosystem. It’s a totally new thing that has not been seen before.
Dominic Papineau, exobiologist and co-author of a newly published study, remarks on the discovery of the world’s deepest known ecosystem nearly 6 miles below sea level in the Pacific Ocean.
Why It Matters: This research expands our understanding of the deep ocean, showing that life can exist even in the most drastic environment. The ecosystem spans more than 1,500 miles on the seafloor between Russia and Alaska. While the organisms, including clams and tube worms, have no access to sunlight, they rely on chemicals seeping from the seafloor to survive.
Learn More:
- Scientists discover a whole new type of ecosystem 30,000 feet deep (Washington Post)
Image Credit: Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, CAS
by Stephanie Wagner, based in Florida
