Chinese sub discovers deepest-ever creatures 10 km undersea
PARIS: A
Chinese submersible
has discovered thousands of worms and molluscs nearly 10 kilometres (six miles) below sea level in the Mariana Trench, the deepest colony of creatures ever observed, a study revealed on Wednesday.
The discovery in Earth's deepest underwater valley suggests that there could be much more life thriving in the hostile conditions at the bottom of our planet's largely unexplored oceans than previously thought, the China-led team of scientists said.
Almost all life on Earth is supported by light from the Sun. However, in the total darkness at the bottom of the world, these creatures live off of chemicals such as methane seeping through cracks in the seafloor, a process called chemosynthesis.
Last year, the Chinese submersible "
Fendouzhe
", or "Striver", dove 23 times into the depths of the Mariana Trench in the western
Pacific Ocean
with researchers on board, according to the study in the journal Nature.
They found colonies of thousands of marine tubeworms and molluscs called bivalves at depths ranging from 2,500 to 9,533 metres (8,200 to 31,000 feet) deep.
Video released alongside the study showed fields of tubeworms, which grew up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) long, as well as piles of molluscs and clams.
Spiky crustaceans, free-floating marine worms, sea cucumbers, feathery-armed sea lilies and other invertebrates were also recorded in the depths.
The study marked "the discovery of the deepest and the most extensive chemosynthesis-based communities known to exist on Earth," its authors said.
Given that other ocean trenches are similar, "such chemosynthesis-based communities might be more widespread than previously anticipated," they added.
The researchers said they also found "compelling evidence" that methane was being produced by microbes, with the tubeworms tending to cluster around microbial mats that resemble snow.
Previous studies have found thriving communities of single-cell organisms on the ocean floor, but few large animals.
But a remotely operated vehicle discovered tubeworms and other marine invertebrates living in hydrothermal vents in the crust below the seafloor two kilometres deep in the Pacific, research said last year.
Pressure rising
The new study was published as nations wrangle over the contentious issue of deep-sea mining. China, the United States and others have expressed interest in mining the depths for valuable minerals.
Ocean scientists warn that mining the little-explored seafloor, one of the last wild zones on the planet, could decimate fragile ecosystems that are not yet well understood.
Despite recent talks, the
International Seabed Authority
-- which oversees deep-sea mining in international waters -- has yet to adopt long-awaited rules governing the industry.
Chinese media has previously reported that the Fendouzhe submersible mission will conduct research on "deep-sea materials".
Only a handful of people have ever visited the bottom of the Mariana Trench, which is a crescent-shaped depression in the Earth's crust that is deeper than Mount Everest is high.
The first explorers visited the trench in 1960 on a brief expedition.
But after that, there were no missions until Hollywood director James Cameron made the first solo trip to the bottom in 2012, describing a "desolate" and "alien" environment.
The water pressure at the bottom of the trench is a crushing eight tons per square inch, more than a thousand times the atmospheric pressure at sea level.
Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
6 hours ago
- India Today
To the Moon, on China's back: Pakistan eyes lunar landing by 2035
Rattled by terrorism, an economy drowning in debt, and relentless political unrest, Pakistan is now setting its sights sky-high with an ambitious goal: landing on the Moon by 2035. But behind the lunar dream lies a familiar reality: a heavy reliance on its all-weather friend Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who is currently in Beijing seeking deeper scientific and strategic cooperation, made the announcement during a meeting with top Chinese officials on Monday. He said the responsibility has been given to Pakistan's space agency, SUPARCO, which has never independently launched a satellite, let alone a space meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Shan Zhongde, head of China's Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency, Iqbal made a strong pitch for intensified collaboration. The aim: to plug the gaping holes in Pakistan's space and nuclear capabilities. The discussion between the two sides, framed as strategic cooperation, underscored a starker truth: Pakistan's space ambitions are increasingly "made in China". From satellite launches to nuclear tech, Beijing continues to be the engine behind Islamabad's scientific MADE IN CHINA SPACE DREAMSWhen it comes to space, Pakistan has a recurring launch partner, and it's not hard to guess who. Every single one of Pakistan's space missions has been powered by Chinese support. From satellites to lunar dreams, Beijing is the Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently revealed that three "Pakistani-made" satellites were launched with substantial help from China, of course. Islamabad also hopes to send its first astronaut to space by 2026 by hitching a ride on China's space station, not via any independent platform of its last month, a new Pakistani remote-sensing satellite was launched from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, aimed at tackling climate change threats. But while it carried a Pakistani flag, the technical muscle came courtesy of China and a helping hand from also championed the "Uraan Pakistan" initiative, claiming Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has breathed new life into the country's space ambitions. Uraan, led by SUPARCO, is Pakistan's national space program, though much of the lift still comes from outside its dependency continues to deepen. Earlier this year, Pakistan signed on to participate in China's Chang'e 8 mission, part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), scheduled for 2028. SUPARCO is expected to contribute a 35-kilogram indigenous rover to explore the Moon's elusive South to NASA, Chang'e 8 is meant to test critical technologies for building a permanent lunar science base. For Pakistan, it's a rare opportunity to be part of a cutting-edge global HOLDING BACK PAK'S SPACE AGENCYPakistan launched its official space program on September 16, 1961, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam, who served as scientific advisor to then-President Ayub Khan. He established the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which at the time positioned Pakistan as one of the early entrants into space SUPARCO has since struggled to make significant advancements with chronic underfunding being one of the primary reasons. With an annual budget of just $36 million (approximately PKR 290 crore), the agency operates on a fraction of what leading space programs challenges have further compounded the stagnation. Over the past decade, SUPARCO has been headed by retired military generals rather than seasoned scientists, leading to criticism about the lack of scientific vision and technical expertise at the very few universities in Pakistan offer specialised programs in space science or engineering, resulting in a shortage of skilled professionals who can contribute to long-term innovation and self-reliance in the terms of capability, Pakistan remains heavily reliant on China for satellite launches, technical support, and infrastructure development. This dependency has curbed the growth of indigenous aerospace technology. Meanwhile, broader economic strains have also impacted Pakistan's ability to sustain scientific collaboration. The government has repeatedly failed to meet its financial commitments under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with overdue payments to Chinese power producers reaching PKR 423 billion by June 2025, according to The Express Tribune. advertisementIn response, senior Chinese official Shan Zhongde reiterated Beijing's commitment to the partnership and lauded Pakistan's alignment with the country's strategic goals. However, his remarks subtly reinforced the perception that Pakistan's scientific or economic progress is increasingly driven by Chinese support.- Ends
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
What lies under: A massive hot blob is approaching New York city; here's what it means
1 2 3 A mysterious geological formation deep beneath the Earth's surface is catching the attention of scientists around the world. It is nicknamed as the 'hot blob,' and this vast mass of heated rock lies beneath the Northern Appalachian region. Surprisingly, this appears to be slowly making its way toward New York City. Though it may sound like a scene from a disaster movie, scientists assure us this is natural. What is the ' hot blob '? The so-called 'hot blob' is officially referred to as the Northern Appalachian Anomaly (NAA). It sits about 200 km beneath the Earth's surface and stretches around 355 km across the northeastern US, including parts of New England. It's a patch of unusually hot rock moving very slowly under the Earth's crust. Researchers originally believed it was a remnant from 180 million years ago, when North America separated from Africa. But new findings suggest it actually formed around 80 million years ago, during the breakup of ancient land masses that became Canada and Greenland. Why and how is it moving? According to a study published in Nature, the hot blob forms when molten rock from the mantle rises into cracks in the Earth's crust created by ancient rifting. Over time, as it cools, the material begins to sink or "drip" downward, causing ripple-like movements known as mantle waves. 'Heat at the base of a continent can weaken and remove part of its dense root, making the continent lighter and more buoyant, like a hot air balloon rising after dropping its ballast,' explained Professor Tom Gernon, lead author of the study and Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton. This uplift effect might explain why the Appalachian Mountains have remained so tall despite millions of years of erosion. Could it be dangerous? The answer is not anytime soon. The blob is moving at about 19 km per million years, meaning it would take roughly 10 to 15 million years to reach New York City. Still, it may have geological impacts, possibly explaining why rare volcanic eruptions in the region sometimes bring diamonds to the surface.
Economic Times
13 hours ago
- Economic Times
Voyager 1 has sent a message from a strange location in space 20,000 lakh km away that's as hot as 50,000°C, but without fire
Synopsis Launched in 1977, NASA's Voyager probes have detected a high-temperature "firewall" beyond the solar system's edge, challenging previous assumptions. The probes revealed connected magnetic fields between interstellar and solar space, prompting new inquiries into the Sun's influence and the galaxy's magnetic structure. These findings enhance our understanding of the solar system's boundaries. Representative image created by AI NASA's Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, launched in 1977, have identified a high-temperature region beyond the edge of the solar system. Scientists are now studying this area, nicknamed the "firewall", which may lead to a new understanding of the solar system's boundary and the magnetic connections between interstellar and solar Voyager probes were launched over four decades ago to explore planets and move beyond the solar system into interstellar space. Despite being launched at a time when the internet was in its infancy and cassette-based Walkmans were popular, the spacecraft continue to send data back to sent Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 with the goal of reaching the farthest regions of space. Over the years, they have provided important information about the outer planets, and now, about the space that lies beyond our solar has long been debate among scientists about where the solar system truly ends. While some suggest it ends after Neptune, others point to the Oort Cloud—a distant region believed to house defines the boundary of the solar system as the heliopause. This is the point where the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the Sun, loses its strength. Beyond this point lies interstellar space. NASA compares the heliopause to the edge of a bubble formed by the Sun's influence. After crossing the heliopause, both Voyager probes encountered an extremely hot region, where temperatures range between 30,000 and 50,000 degrees Celsius. This region has been informally named the 'firewall.'Despite the extreme heat, the probes remained unharmed. NASA explains that this 'firewall' is not made of fire in the traditional sense. Instead, it contains highly energetic particles that are very spread out. They carry significant energy but don't burn as flames passing through this high-energy zone, the probes recorded magnetic field data from interstellar space. Scientists noticed that the magnetic fields beyond the heliopause seemed to stay connected to the fields within the solar system. This challenges earlier beliefs that the two regions were completely finding has raised new questions: Is there a connection between the magnetic fields inside and outside the solar system? Does the Sun's influence extend farther than previously believed? Are there still unknown factors about the galaxy's magnetic structure? Even though these discoveries happen far from Earth, they are important for space science. The continuous operation of Voyager 1 and 2 since 1977, and their ability to report new information, highlights the long-term success of these over 2 billion kilometers behind them, the Voyager spacecraft are helping scientists understand more about the structure and limits of the solar system. Each new discovery reminds us that the universe remains full of unknowns still waiting to be explored.
