Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll learn when you read this story:<\/p>\n
Researchers believe the earliest forms of life on Earth began in hydrothermal vents\u2014cracks in the sea floor that release hot, mineral-rich water.<\/p>\n
A team of scientists just discovered a hydrothermal system that\u2019s 100 times larger than the famously massive Lost City system in the Atlantic Ocean.<\/p>\n
The study suggests that the newly-discovered field\u2014named the Kunlun system\u2014may bring scientists one step closer to understanding the formula for life.<\/p>\n
The ocean covers about 70% of Earth\u2019s surface, yet less than 30%<\/a> of the sea floor has been explored and mapped<\/a>. So, it isn\u2019t surprising that scientists are frequently making new discoveries deep beneath the waves. This time, researchers discovered a vast hydrothermal system that they have since dubbed the Kunlun system. Published in the journal Science Advances<\/a>, their recent study details just how extraordinary the newly-discovered deep sea network really is.<\/p>\n The Kunlun hydrothermal field is a tectonically active site in the Pacific Ocean<\/a>. It sits roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of the Mussau Trench on the Caroline Plate, located just north of New Guinea. A crewed submersible explored the area and discovered that the system consists of 20 circular craters in the sea floor<\/a>, with some exceeding one kilometer (half a mile) in diameter. The entire field spans a whopping 4.3 square miles (11.1 square kilometers).<\/p>\n In the ocean, hydrothermal systems occur when seawater seeps down through cracks in oceanic crust and rapidly heats as it nears Earth\u2019s mantle<\/a>. And while they are often associated with the briny depths of our oceans, hydrothermal vents aren\u2019t exclusive to the sea. In fact, one of the most well-known hydrothermal systems is the network of geysers<\/a> at Yellowstone National Park. Each geyser is a small piece of (or a feature in) the larger system.<\/p>\n So, why should we care about nature\u2019s jacuzzis jets? According to some scientists<\/a>, they could be key to understanding how life began<\/a> on Earth. Deep sea hydrothermal vents are surrounded by water that is rich in hydrogen\u2014an element that serves as a building block for the organic molecules that make up life<\/a> as we know it. But just because you have flour and water doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll end up with a loaf of bread. The conditions surrounding hydrothermal systems give scientists the perfect natural laboratory to research what that precise recipe for life was when it began millions of years ago.<\/p>\n Not only is the Kunlun hydrothermal field exciting because it\u2019s newly-discovered, but it also isn\u2019t your average hydrothermal system\u2014according to Sun Weidong, corresponding author on the study, the field has several abnormal characteristics.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Kunlun system stands out for its exceptionally high hydrogen flux, scale, and unique geological setting,\u201d he explained in a press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n Researchers say that the location of the field in particular is \u201cchallenging long-held assumptions,\u201d as it shows that hydrogen generation\u2014and extremely rich generation, at that\u2014can occur far from mid-ocean ridges.<\/p>\n