An international team of scientists spent two weeks exploring deep waters off the coast of Chile. They set out to characterize the microbial and macrofaunal communities surrounding the Atacama Trench. The researchers observed incredible biodiversity, collected samples for further study, and located Chile’s deepest and most northern cold seeps.
At 2836 meters deep, the seeps provide chemical energy for deep-sea animals living without sunlight, offering insights into the conditions that led to the development of life on Earth.
