Latest Underwater Discovery Could Shed Light on Life in Other Worlds

Scientists have stumbled upon an unexpected find deep in the ocean near the Arctic Circle. The Knipovich Ridge, an underwater mountain range off the coast of Svalbard, Norway, has revealed something exciting 3,000 meters below the surface. This area, previously thought to be unremarkable, is home to a field of hydrothermal vents. This field stretches nearly a kilometer in length and 200 meters in width and has been named after a creature from Norse mythology.

The hydrothermal vent field has been named Jøtul, after the giants in Norse mythology who are said to live under mountains.

Marine geologist Gerhard Bohrmann from the University of Bremen in Germany explains how these vents work: “Water seeps into the ocean floor and gets heated by magma. This superheated water then rises back up through cracks and fissures in the sea floor.”

“As it rises, the water picks up minerals and materials from the oceanic crust. These mineral-rich fluids often escape through tube-like structures called black smokers, where the minerals are deposited.”

Why are hydrothermal vents significant?

Hydrothermal vents are found in parts of the ocean where sunlight doesn’t reach, making it perpetually dark and cold. These vents release minerals into the water, creating an environment where life can thrive through chemosynthesis. Unlike photosynthesis, which relies on sunlight, chemosynthesis uses chemical reactions for energy.

This discovery shows that life can thrive in these extreme undersea conditions, more than previously thought. This is important because it offers clues about how life might exist on other planets and moons with conditions very different from Earth.

The Jøtul Field is located on a slow-spreading ridge, a boundary between two tectonic plates. As these plates slowly move apart, valleys and ridges continuously form.

(With inputs from agencies)