**Scientists Discover Hidden Marine Ecosystem Beneath Pacific Ocean's Seafloor**

Researchers have uncovered a thriving ecosystem of animal life in an unexpected location: beneath hydrothermal vents under the Pacific Ocean's seafloor. The discovery was found below the East Pacific Rise, a volcanically active ridge where two tectonic plates converge, as reported in a recent study published in Nature Communications.

Initially, it was believed that the subseafloor crust beneath hydrothermal vents was inhabited solely by microbes and viruses. However, the new discovery challenges this notion. Monika Bright, a marine ecologist at the University of Vienna and co-author of the study, revealed that living organisms such as giant tubeworms, worms, and snails are not only prevalent around hydrothermal vents but also within them. These vents occur where seawater meets magma beneath the Earth's crust.

Using a remotely operated vehicle equipped with a chisel, the research team drilled through about 10 centimeters of volcanic rock, expecting to find larvae. Instead, they uncovered a hidden space housing an entire community of living animals, including giant tubeworms, inside small cavities. "There were animals, 50 centimeters long, lying in there—alive," Bright stated, describing the discovery as "spectacular."

The research also suggests that larvae from seafloor communities may get drawn into the Earth's crust along with seawater through the hydrothermal circulation system. These larvae then settle into habitats below the seafloor, potentially extending their ecosystems far below the surface.

The extent of animal life within the crustal subseafloor remains unknown, prompting an urgent call for deeper underwater exploration and protection against future environmental changes. Despite the high costs associated with deep-sea research, Bright emphasized the critical role the ocean plays in our planet's climate and overall health, highlighting the necessity for further study.

Only around 5% of the world's oceans have been explored, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Jyotika Virmani, executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, reinforced the idea that the ocean holds many more secrets, noting that new discoveries are made with each expedition.