Cruise Fantasy Plan
Long before heading out for a major multidisciplinary research cruise like this one, most ships' captains, funding agencies, and participants expect to have a detailed...
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Tom Kleindinst/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Under Pressure
The hydrothermal vents that we study here at the Lau Basin, and all around the world, are what any right-minded person would consider a “hostile...
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SOI/ROPOS/Fanny Girard
Imaging the Deep Sea
Due to their remoteness, deep-sea ecosystems are extremely hard to monitor. For instance, one can directly observe changes in the vegetation after a wildfire, but...
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SOI/Cherisse Du Preez
How Do We Know What We Know?
How do scientists know so much about animals? How do they know how animals live their lives? What do they eat? What conditions do they...
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Charles Fisher and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Too Hot To Handle?
There’s a reason why people are hesitant to walk over burning coals. Barring those who have congenital analgesia, everyone can feel heat, and unless you...
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SOI/Emily Estes
All Aboard!
Much like the deep sea hydrothermal vents we study, no light penetrates into the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) control room. Here, the ROPOS team operates...
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Charles Fisher and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Back Again
Over a decade ago, we established 19 long-term study sites in four different vent fields here on the Eastern Lau Spreading Center. We placed small,...
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SOI/Cherisse Du Preez
Among Waves and Whirlwinds: A Mid-Cruise Account
"Build me straight, O worthy Master! Stanch and strong, a goodly vessel, That shall laugh at all disaster, And with wave and whirlwind wrestle!" -Henry...
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Charles Fisher and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Living Together in the Deep Sea
It is difficult to overstate the importance of microbes to animal and plant life. For example, we rely on microbes in our gut to help...
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Monika Bright
The Struggle to Survive
Tubeworms are unusual creatures. They have no eyes (there is no light where they live) and they do not have what we think of...
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Dr. V. Ferrini
Bringing the Seafloor into Focus
Nestled between Tonga and Fiji, the Lau Back-arc Basin is adjacent to the Tonga Trench – where the Pacific Plate is being driven under the...
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SOI/Cherisse Du Preez
Inside the Box: Bringing Vent Life to the Surface
Deep in the ocean, far removed from the sun, there is a wealth of biological diversity that exists at hydrothermal vents. As mentioned in Peter...
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Harvard University
Welcome to the Vent Life Expedition
My name is Peter Girguis, and on behalf of the science party and the Schmidt Ocean Institute I welcome you to our expedition’s blog. We...
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