abyssal depth Archives - Astrobiology

Freshly collected egg capsules (or cocoons) and flatworms. (a) Egg capsules on rock fragment (arrowhead, one egg capsule). (b) Partly opened egg capsule containing three spherical-stage flatworms. (c) Spherical-stage flatworm extracted from egg capsule. (d) Cracked egg capsule containing seven vermiform-stage flatworms (arrow, empty egg capsule). (e) The same, half of egg capsule shell removed. (f) Vermiform-stage flatworm (ICHUM8616) extracted from egg capsule, in ventral view; anterior to the left. (g) Sagittal section of individual ICHUM8616, HE stained; an, anterior; do, dorsal; gd, gut diverticulum; mo, mouth opening; ph, pharynx; po, posterior; ve, ventral. Scale bars: 10 mm (a); 1 mm (b–g). -- Biology Letters via PubMed

Analog Studies, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Sample Return, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Extreme Earth Life: Flatworm Cocoons Discovered In Abyssal Depths Of Over 6,000 Meters

by Keith CowingSeptember 11, 2025September 11, 2025

Editor’s note: when we begin to robotically explore the ice-covered oceans of Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Mimas etc. we’ll need to make the most of the visits. Learning how to best […]

Sampling information and morphological characteristics of 11 deep-sea species (Image by IHB)

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Nomenclature, Systematics, Natural History, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Ocean Planet Biodiversity Genomics

by Keith CowingApril 13, 2025April 13, 2025

The deep sea, covering approximately 65% of Earth’s surface, has long been considered a biological desert. In this extreme environment—particularly in the hadal zone at depths greater than 6,000 meters—organisms […]

Sampling location and community composition -- biorxiv.org

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Active Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Viral Ecology Across Spatial Scale In A Deep-sea Brine Pool

by Keith CowingFebruary 5, 2024February 5, 2024

Deep-sea brine pools represent rare, extreme environments that focus biodiversity at bathyal to abyssal depths. Despite their small size and distribution, brine pools represent important ecosystems to study because they […]