Latest news with #geologists
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Ancient 'lost city' found at bottom of the Atlantic Ocean holds clue to origins of life
Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, scientists have discovered a haunting undersea world that may hold the blueprint for how life began on Earth. This vast field of mineral towers, called the Lost City, is the oldest known hydrothermal system in the ocean. Scientists believe its extreme conditions mirror the early Earth, offering clues to how the first life forms might have emerged. The Lost City Hydrothermal Field lie more than 2,300 feet beneath the surface, on the slopes of an underwater mountain in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a massive underwater mountain range that runs through the Atlantic Ocean. It marks the boundary between tectonic plates and is a hotspot for geological activity. Researchers estimate the Lost City has existed for over 120,000 years, making it the longest-living hydrothermal vent field ever discovered. In a recent breakthrough, scientists successfully recovered a core sample of mantle rock from the site. This rock is the deep Earth source that fuels the vent system. The core sample could help scientists better understand the chemical reactions happening beneath the seafloor, reactions that produce hydrocarbons in the absence of sunlight or oxygen, serving as food for marine life. These same reactions may have played a role in the origin of life on Earth billions of years ago. The Lost City is made up of towering spires of carbonate rock, some nearly 200 feet tall, formed by a unique geological reaction called serpentinization, where seawater interacts with mantle rock deep below the seafloor. These reactions release methane and hydrogen gas, which fuel microbial life that survives without sunlight or oxygen, something rarely seen on Earth. The site is located approximately nine miles west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis, just south of the Azores islands. Its isolated position means it has remained undisturbed by human activity for thousands of years, preserving an ecosystem that offers a window into Earth's earliest conditions. Each hydrothermal vent, nicknamed IMAX, Poseidon, Seeps, and Nature emits warm, alkaline fluids. These create a stable environment for life in one of the most extreme corners of the planet. Now, with renewed global attention, scientists believe the Lost City may help explain how life first formed from non-living matter, an unsolved mystery in biology. The site is located approximately 15 kilometers (about nine miles) west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis, just south of the Azores. Its remote position places it far from human interference. Unlike most hydrothermal systems powered by volcanic heat, the Lost City is powered by chemical energy from the Earth's mantle, giving it a distinct structure and chemistry. Inside its towering chimneys, fluids reach up to 194 Fahrenheit, not boiling, but hot enough to fuel chemicals reactions. These vents produce hydrocarbons, organic compounds made from carbon and hydrogen, which are considered the building blocks of life. The site is special because its hydrocarbons form through deep Earth chemical reactions, not sunlight or photosynthesis. This makes the Lost City a rare second example of how life could begin. Microbes inside these chimneys live in total darkness, with no oxygen, using methane and hydrogen as their only fuel. On the outer surfaces, rare animals like shrimp, snails, sea urchins, and eels cling to the mineral-rich structures. Larger animals are uncommon here likely because the energy supply is limited. Unlike surface ecosystems, there's no sunlight or abundant food chain, only chemical nutrients trickling out of the vents. Microbiologist William Brazelton told Smithsonian Magazine: 'This is an example of a type of ecosystem that could be active on Enceladus or Europa right this second.' These are moons of Saturn and Jupiter, which have oceans beneath icy crusts, raising the hope that similar life could exist beyond Earth. Some spires have grown to 60 meters tall over tens of thousands of years. Scientists say they act like natural laboratories, showing how life might arise in environments without sun, plants, or animals. In 2017, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) gave the Polish government a 15-year exploration license for an area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which includes territory surrounding the Lost City. Though Lost City itself lacks valuable minerals, nearby vent fields may contain polymetallic sulfides, a target for future deep-sea mining. That's where the threat comes in. Mining operations near hydrothermal vents can stir up sediment plumes, releasing toxic chemicals or particles that drift through the water column and harm nearby ecosystems, even if the site itself isn't directly touched. The Convention on Biological Diversity has already designated Lost City as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area (EBSA), based on its uniqueness, biodiversity, and scientific value. Being listed as an EBSA gives scientists leverage to argue for protective measures, though it carries no binding legal protection. Meanwhile, UNESCO is reviewing the site for World Heritage status, which could offer stronger international backing against mining and disturbance. Scientists argue this is urgently needed. Once disturbed, such systems may never recover, and we could lose a living example of how life began.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
There Might Not Be a Map for That: Budget Cuts Threaten Geological Surveys
Every spring for the last 31 years, Reed Lewis has traversed Idaho to do what technology still cannot: examine rocks, collect samples and make a map that is critical for mining, oil and gas and other industries. He knows getting an early start is essential, as summer smoke and winter snows limit the days that are useful for gathering data. Dr. Lewis, a geologist for the state of Idaho, is normally in the field by June at the latest. But halfway through the month, he's stuck at his desk. That's because amid uncertainty over the federal budget, funds from Washington that pay for geological mapping have not arrived. 'It's starting to be worrisome,' Dr. Lewis said. The concern is widespread; no states have received their 2025 mapping money. What's more, one line in the Trump administration's proposed budget could hamstring the ability of states to create basic geologic maps for years to come. Geologists in every state use federal funds to study wildfires, water resources, hazards and to map the locations of mineral deposits and energy sources. In addition to mining and fossil fuel industries, the free and publicly available maps are used by geothermal energy and real estate companies. Private companies might map a small area of particular interest but they generally do not share the information. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Washington Post
04-06-2025
- Climate
- Washington Post
What made Mount Etna's latest eruption so rare
MILAN — Mount Etna, the volcano that towers over eastern Sicily, has again captivated the world with a spectacular show , spewing smoke and high into the sky. But the defining event of Monday's eruption was the more rare pyroclastic flow from the southwestern crater not visible from a distance.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Rocky mountain state rattled by a dozen earthquakes is just six hours sparking fears 'The Big One' is coming
Idaho has been rocked by flurry of earthquakes, with more than a dozen breaking out within the last 12 hours. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has revealed that several of these quakes were stronger than 3.5 in magnitude. The latest one (magnitude 3.9) struck just outside the small town of Stanley in Central Idaho at 9:06am ET Tuesday morning. Overall, there have been a staggering 33 earthquakes recorded by USGS in the same area of Idaho since 2:13pm Monday afternoon. Stanley, which has a population of less than 150 people, played a key role in the gold rush during the late 1860s and 1870s. Stanley also sits near the Sawtooth Fault, a 40-mile-long fault line running through central Idaho. While geologically ancient, the Sawtooth Fault was only clearly identified in 2010. It drew national attention after a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck in 2020, one of the largest in Idaho's recent history, which was felt across several states. Experts have called the Sawtooth Fault a 'sleeping giant' as it is dormant for long periods but capable of triggering a devastating earthquake when it awakens. This week's constant wave of seismic activity in the same area is 'unusual' and concerning to Idaho state geologist Claudio Berti, who said it's unclear what's going to happen next. Between 10:23pm ET Monday night and 5am Tuesday morning, a dozen moderate-sized earthquakes struck the area around Stanley. Then, USGS reported that another four quakes rattled the region starting at 7:57am ET. Three of these quakes exceeded 3.5 in magnitude. Earthquakes between 2.5 and 5.4 are typically felt by people and may cause minor damage. No damage has been reported from this swarm. Seismic swarms can sometimes act as precursors to larger earthquakes along a certain fault line, but there's no guarantee such an event will take place. However, scientists estimate the fault could produce magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquakes, strong enough to cause serious shaking and damage hundreds of miles away. 'When we get one single [earthquake] event somewhere in the middle of nowhere, it is hard to make any sense of it,' Berti told the Idaho Statesman. He explained that when there's a constant series of quakes focused in a specific area, their alignment tends to reveal the location and shape of the fault — the crack in the Earth's crust where rocks move and cause earthquakes.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Watch how Mount Etna explode as large smoke rise from volcano
Mount Etna for Italy don explode, and ogbonge ash and smoke rise from di volcano. Pictures and video from di island of Sicily show as volcanic material dey pour comot from di volcano on Monday morning. Italy National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) Etna Observatory say dem record explosions of "increasing intensity" for di early hours on Monday morning. Di full scale of di eruption neva dey clear and di disruption e cause be like say e no too much. Mount Etna na one of di world most active volcanoes, so eruptions na normal tin and di explosion dey rarely cause significant damage or injury. Ground movement show say di latest eruption happun for di south eastern edge of di volcano, according to INGV. Videos wey dem share throughout Monday show mixture of ash, gas and rock – wey dey known as pyroclastic flow – di video show as e dey comot from di site and as e dey move down di side of di volcano. Geologists wey dey monitor di eruption tok say e dey likely say part of di volcano crater don collapse. Pyroclastic flow fit dey very dangerous to di surrounding area, but e no show say e fit be threat. For dia most recent update, INGV tok say di volcanic material neva pass di Valley of di Lion, di place wia tourists dey gada. INGV say dem first record changes for di volcano activity at 00:39 local time (22:39 GMT), bifor dem clear am say na ongoing "Strombolian" eruption. Di size of Strombolian eruptions dey vary but di explosions dey happun one afta di oda. E dey happun sake of di presence of gas for di magma chamber within di volcano. Wen di gas bubble reach di surface, dem fit burst suddenly, and begin throw material skywards. These types of eruptions fit dey particularly dangerous for nearby aircraft. Authorities reportedly issue red alert on Monday, to possibly suspend flights wey dey operate nearby, but dem later bring am down. Mount Etna last notable eruption happun for February and e make di island Catania airport to divert dozens of flights sake of ash clouds. Authorities don also warn tourists to comot from di volcano lava flows.
