New species found in Mariana Trench could unlock earth's secrets
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the deepest place on Earth. In the Mariana Trench, they encountered species previously unknown to science.
Researchers discovered thousands of previously unidentified microorganisms at a depth of 36,037 feet in the Mariana Trench, specifically in a place known as the Challenger Deep. This is the deepest point on Earth, and only 27 people have reached it. The first descent took place in 1960 when oceanographers Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard became the first to reach the bottom. In 2012, "Titanic" director James Cameron joined their ranks as the first solo diver.
New research published in the journal "Cell" reveals that in this extreme oceanic zone, known as the hadal zone, as many as 7,000 species of microorganisms have been discovered. Almost 90 percent of them were previously unknown to science.
In addition to microorganisms, scientists also found small crustaceans and snailfish, which was surprising because it was previously unrecognized that these species inhabit such deep waters. They can withstand frigid temperatures and extremely high pressures, surviving at the very bottom of our planet.
The importance of the discovery
Research indicates that this part of the planet plays an irreplaceable role in global processes, with its unique ecosystems and extreme life forms.
Our research showed the hadal zone microbes exhibit extraordinary novelty and diversity, demonstrating the immense resource potential of the hadal microorganims in terms of new genes, new structures and new functions — the study authors pointed out, as cited by ladbible.com.
This discovery resulted from a Chinese expedition that conducted 33 dives to the bottom of the Challenger Deep using the deep-sea submersible Fendouzhe. Samples of seawater, organisms, and sediments from the ocean floor were collected, allowing for a thorough examination of this unique ecosystem.
