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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 work environment.” Water, at 360o C (680o F) or higher, constantly flows out of these impressive, sometimes 30m tall, chimney structures. Many of the fluids are quite acidic, at pH … Continued

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 assessing animal community succession on hydrothermal vents is much more complicated. A good way to achieve this goal is through the analysis of time series of images. Hydrothermal vents are … Continued

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 like? How do they choose a mate? What is their family history? Finding some of these answers is more straightforward than others.  For example, we can learn what temperatures the … Continued

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 live above the Arctic Circle like me, it is not a feeling we often relish. In fact, heat sensitivity can invoke serious fear and has fueled mankind’s most sadistic tortures … Continued

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 the submersible, helping scientists collect samples and conduct analyses. Working 12-hour shifts, a ROPOS pilot may spend a full day in this room, lit only by glow of ~22 computer … Continued

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, floating markers on each of these sites in the hope that one day we would return to see how they had (or had not) changed. And now, here I am … Continued

“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 Wadsworth Longfellow On the morning of the 19th, the R/V Falkor entered harbor in the country of Tonga after nearly 12 days at sea. As we stood on the deck watching … Continued

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 us process our food, and many plants rely on associations with fungi to help them extract nutrients from the soil. In the deep sea around hydrothermal vents, mutually beneficial associations … Continued