hydrothermal vents Archives

Towering black smoker chimneys belch superheated water rich in chemicals and minerals. Bacteria transform this toxic soup into energy, kickstarting an astonishing community of life. Image courtesy of ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute

Expedition Led By MBARI Researchers Reveals A Remarkable, And Rare, Form Of Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vents

by Keith CowingJuly 10, 2026July 10, 2026

[MBARI] An international team of researchers, led by MBARI Senior Scientist Aaron Micallef and Schmidt Ocean Institute, has discovered two remarkable fields of hydrothermal vents in the Doldrums Megatransform and […]

"To bridge dilution between environments, we specify mobile “holding pens” (green-rust/iron flocs, silica mats, pumice rafts, and sea-surface microlayer/foam) that concentrate, shuttle, and release prebiotic cargo into shoreline pools." -- Grok via Astrobiology.com

Analog Studies, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

A Hybrid Iron/Green-Rust-Urea Model for Prebiotic Chemistry: A Synthesis of Testable Pathways for Planetary Astrobiology

by Keith CowingOctober 20, 2025October 20, 2025

We propose a quantitative, testable framework for abiogenesis that links submarine alkaline vents, which supply H2, ΔpH, and Fe/Fe–S catalysis, to subaerial hot-spring fields that provide wet–dry concentration and UV-driven […]

(A) Sampling information and morphological characteristics of 11 deep-sea species. These samples were captured from depths ranging between 1,218 and 7,730 m, spanning locations from the Mariana Trench to the Middle Indian Ocean by the manned submersible “Shenhai Yongshi (Deep-Sea Warrior)” and the manned submersible “Fendouzhe (Striver)” as well as the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) “TIAN YA (Skyline)” during our expeditions aboard the mothership TAN SUO YI HAO (exploration I) and TAN SUO ER HAO (exploration II).

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Revealing The Evolutionary Marvels In Earth’s Deepest Oceans

by Keith CowingAugust 5, 2025August 5, 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 […]

Overview of oceanographic sampling procedures -- Microbial Ecology via PubMed

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Sample Return, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

A Comprehensive Mini-Review on Culturable and Non-Culturable Microbial Diversity from Deep Sea

by Keith CowingJuly 23, 2025July 23, 2025

Microorganisms are essential players in Earth’s ecosystems, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to harsh conditions including arctic ice caps, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and high-pressure oceanic zones.

Schematic showing a possible mechanism of hydrocarbon formation in subsurface rocks from H2O and carbon compounds based on geothermal energy. When H2O is adsorbed on a solid acid in natural rock, it forms a doubly bonded cyclic metastable structure by sharing a coordinate bond and a hydrogen bond. As the number of free electrons in the conduction band increases with increasing temperature, free electrons in the solid acid can move to H2O through the hydrogen bond. In return, surplus electrons in H2O can quickly move back to the solid acid through the coordinate bond to maintain neutral conditions. This electron exchange results in H2O dissociation and the formation of H and OH radicals. H radicals react with carbon compounds to form various unstable hydrocarbon species (CH, CH2) and CH3 radicals when CO2 is added and reduced to carbon or activated carbon. On the other hand, when organic hydrocarbons (biomass) are added and dissociated by H radicals, other products such as C3H7, C2H5, and CH3 radicals can be formed. Finally, H2 and diverse hydrocarbons can be produced through reactions among H radicals, hydrocarbon radicals, and unstable hydrocarbon species. OH radicals are likely consumed during the oxidation of rock constituents, such as Fe2+ and C. Unsaturated hydrocarbons can further react with H radicals or H2 to become saturated and are gradually converted to CH4 through H radical-induced C‒C bond breaking in rock, as observed in natural oil and gas. -- Science Reports via PubMed

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Habitable Zones, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Microbiology & Virology, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Production Of Abiotic Or Biogenic Hydrocarbons On Rock Particles In The Presence Of H2O And Carbon Compounds

by Keith CowingMarch 5, 2025March 5, 2025

Abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons are found in fluids discharged from ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal vents. Beneath the hydrothermal vents, abiotic H2 and hydrocarbons can be formed by serpentinization reactions and Fischer–Tropsch-type hydrocarbon-forming […]

a–c Raman measurement of the HV wall near a fluid channel. a Overlay of the Raman map with the corresponding SEM image. The Raman map is a superimposed image of three specific peaks. The Raman map shows that the brucite and Mg-carbonate crystals are discretely located in the wall, while carbonate ions were present in all regions, indicating the adsorption of carbonate ions by the brucite. b Raman spectra of surface crystals (blue) and HV wall (red) at the positions shown in (a, c). c Map of three specific Raman peaks, red: 442.6 cm−1 (brucite lattice vibration, A1g, width 47.5 cm−1), blue: 1109.7 cm−1 (carbonate, width 73.4 cm−1), and green: 3420.7 cm−1 (interlayered water, width 98.8 cm−1). The corresponding peaks are shown in the spectra in (b). -- Nature Communications

Analog Studies, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving

Nanostructures In The Deep Ocean Floor Hint At Life’s Origin

by Keith CowingSeptember 27, 2024September 27, 2024

Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan and The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) of Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered inorganic […]

This is an image of the rim that the Perseverance rover took on sol 383 (March 19th, 2022) when it was traversing the crater floor. Dox Castle is located at the top of the image in the far ground. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs

Mars Perseverance Astrobiology Rover Heads Toward Dox Castle

by Keith CowingSeptember 25, 2024September 25, 2024

The Perseverance rover is reaching new heights as it ascends the rim of Jezero crater (over 300 meters in elevation higher than the original landing site)! The rover is now […]

Montana State University scientists have found evidence that tiny organisms living in Yellowstone National Park's hydrothermal area produce methane. Photo submitted by Roland Hatzenpichler

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return

New Groups Of Methane-producing Organisms Identified In Yellowstone National Park

by Keith CowingAugust 1, 2024September 18, 2025

A team of scientists from Montana State University has provided the first experimental evidence that two new groups of microbes thriving in thermal features in Yellowstone National Park produce methane […]

ALVIN takes water samples from a hydrothermal vent producing black “smoke.” The water is black because it contains particulate metal sulfides. These precipitate when the hot fluids mix with cold seawater. (Photo by HOV ALVIN/Woods Hole Oceanographic/Mandy Joye)

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Away Team Update: Exploring Hydrothermal Vents In The Gulf Of California

by Keith CowingJuly 29, 2024July 29, 2024

When Samantha Joye and her fellow researchers once again set sail into the Gulf of California, they weren’t sure what to expect.

This enhanced color view of Saturn's moon Enceladus shows the south polar terrain, where jets of material spray out form long cracks called Tiger Stripes. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Status Report

Sub-Micrometer Particles Remote Detection in Enceladus Plume Based on Cassinni’s UV Spectrograph Data

by Keith CowingJuly 20, 2024July 7, 2024

Enceladus is the Saturnian satellite known to have water vapor erupting from its south pole region called Tiger Stripes.

hydrothermal vents

Expedition Led By MBARI Researchers Reveals A Remarkable, And Rare, Form Of Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vents

A Hybrid Iron/Green-Rust-Urea Model for Prebiotic Chemistry: A Synthesis of Testable Pathways for Planetary Astrobiology

Revealing The Evolutionary Marvels In Earth’s Deepest Oceans

A Comprehensive Mini-Review on Culturable and Non-Culturable Microbial Diversity from Deep Sea

Production Of Abiotic Or Biogenic Hydrocarbons On Rock Particles In The Presence Of H2O And Carbon Compounds

Nanostructures In The Deep Ocean Floor Hint At Life’s Origin

Mars Perseverance Astrobiology Rover Heads Toward Dox Castle

New Groups Of Methane-producing Organisms Identified In Yellowstone National Park

Away Team Update: Exploring Hydrothermal Vents In The Gulf Of California

Sub-Micrometer Particles Remote Detection in Enceladus Plume Based on Cassinni’s UV Spectrograph Data

Dragonfly Titan Astrobiology Droid Clears Key Tests

Expedition Led By MBARI Researchers Reveals A Remarkable, And Rare, Form Of Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vents

SwRI Study Found Primordial Mini-moons May Explain Meteorite Composition

The Galactic Centre G+0.633-0.0604 Molecular Cloud: A New Astrochemical Gold Mine. I. Gas Physical Properties

Researchers Confirm The Cause Of Earth’s Biggest Mass Extinction