Scientists have made an incredible discovery at the deepest point on Earth, known as Challenger Deep, located in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean. This spot is about 36,000 feet (10,984 meters) below sea level, making it the deepest part of the ocean. To go deeper, you’d have to break through the Earth’s crust.
Challenger Deep was first explored in 1960 by oceanographers Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard. Later, in 2012, filmmaker James Cameron became the first solo diver to reach the bottom. Since then, only 27 people have ventured to this extreme depth.
Now, scientists have discovered thousands of never-before-seen microbes thriving in this harsh environment. These microbes can survive extreme cold and crushing pressure, unlike anything we know on the surface. The findings were published in the journal *Cell* on March 6, offering the first detailed look at life in the “hadal zone,” the deepest part of the ocean.
The discovery came from a Chinese expedition using the deep-sea submarine *Fendouzhe*. During 33 dives, the team collected seawater, organisms, and sediment samples from depths ranging from 6,000 meters to the very bottom of Challenger Deep. They identified over 7,000 species of microbes, nearly 90% of which were entirely new to science. The team also found tiny crustaceans and snailfish living in this extreme environment, which was previously unknown.
The study highlights the importance of this unique ecosystem, describing it as playing a critical role in global processes. The researchers believe these newly discovered microbes could offer valuable genetic resources, potentially helping address the depletion of biological resources on land.
This groundbreaking discovery sheds light on the mysterious and extreme life forms that exist in the deepest parts of our planet.
