bacterial mat Archives - Astrobiology

Sediment core sampling procedure adapted from the expedition’s press release (Schmidt Ocean Institute, SOI), licensed under CC BY 4.0 -- CAB

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New Sulfur-dependent Ecosystem In A Gas Vent In The Depths Of The Chilean Pacific

by Keith CowingMay 7, 2026May 7, 2026

Unlike most similar emanations described to date, this one shows no evidence of methane emission or consumption. The absence of this molecule and its abundance of sulfur make it a […]

Sampling fluids of 180 degree Celsius at the White Sealhound structure. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen

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Newly Discovered Hydrothermal Fields Off The Island Of Milos

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2025December 2, 2025

The study identifies three major vent areas — Aghia Kiriaki, Paleochori–Thiorychia, and Vani — all located along active fault zones that run across the Milos shelf.

MAGs and metabolic potential in and on carbonates with low, intermediate and high AOM activity. We sequenced the surface and the interior of R1, R9 and Chimlet with low, intermediate and high AOM activity, respectively, and binned MAGs from these six metagenomes to investigate taxonomy and metabolic potential. MAGs shown were selected based on relative abundance, shown in parenthesis, with a focus on Proteobacteria on the rock surface because of their higher abundance compared to the interior (Fig. 2c). Find a full list of MAGs in supplementary table 3. Anaerobic methane oxidizing archaea dominated the rock interiors, Ca. Methanophaga, in particular, and Ca. Desulfaltia was the most abundant interior SRB suggesting it may be an ANME partner bacterium. In contrast, the surface communities and their metabolic potentials differed between rocks along with the AOM activity of the carbonate, methane supply strength, and oxygen concentrations. We indicated the difference in methane supply to the rocks estimated based on the in situ observations with arrow size. Further, oxygen concentrations were higher at the Del Mar (22 µM) vs. SMM800 (8 µM) seep. -- biorxiv.org

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Distinct Microbial Communities Within and On Seep Carbonates Support Long-term Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane and Novel pMMO Diversity

by Keith CowingFebruary 10, 2025February 10, 2025

At methane seeps worldwide, syntrophic anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria (ANME-SRB) promote carbonate precipitation and rock formation, acting as methane and carbon sink.

By studying hydrothermal vent fields such as Aurora, scientists hope to also learn more about Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Black smoker vents such as this one at Aurora discharge fluids up to 370°C. Credit Chris German/NUI, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

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Earth’s Northernmost Seafloor Hydrothermal System Shows Even More Variety In Vent Styles Than Expected

by Keith CowingDecember 20, 2024December 20, 2024

A new study about Earth’s northernmost seafloor hydrothermal system shows even more variety in vent styles than previously thought. This has important implications for understanding the origin of these vents […]

Enceladus -- NASA

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Hydrothermal Vents On The Seafloors Of Ocean Worlds Could Support Life

by Keith CowingJune 25, 2024June 25, 2024

We’ve all seen the surreal footage in nature documentaries showing hydrothermal vents on the frigid ocean floor—bellowing black plumes of super-hot water—and the life forms that cling to them. Now, […]