Deep Atlantic Drilling Reveals Hidden Hot Water Source Fueling Sunless Ocean Life
Scientists drilled 1.3 km beneath the Atlantic seabed near the Lost City hydrothermal field and found superheated, hydrogen-rich water with a chemical fingerprint matching the vent fluids, implying a hidden deep source feeding the sunless ecosystem. The water’s chemistry indicates past temperatures of at least 300°C, highlighting how chemical energy from rock–water reactions supports life without sunlight and offering clues about life on icy ocean worlds; however, samples were mixed with seawater and drilling fluids, and a direct underground connection to the chimneys remains unproven, so further expeditions are planned.