A new study has revealed a surprisingly rich array of life in some of the world's deepest ocean trenches.
Researchers exploring the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench and the western Aleutian Trench in the northwestern Pacific Ocean found thriving communities of organisms, such as tube worms, clams and crustaceans.
The work – led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, and published in the journal Nature – shows that life can flourish even in the harshest environments on Earth.
Deep dive
Using the human-occupied submersible Fendouzhe, the team explored an area spanning 2,500km, reaching depths between 5,800m to 9,533m.
Here, they observed communities of life clustered around chemical seeps on the ocean floor.
These seeps release substances such as hydrogen and methane, which certain microbes convert to energy – a process known as chemosynthesis.
Until now, it was thought that life in the hadal zone (depths below 6,000 metres) was sparse, limited by intense pressure, near-freezing temperatures and a lack of sunlight. But the discovery of such active chemosynthetic communities challenges that assumption, say the researchers.
Many of the species found during the expedition have never been seen before. The team is now working to classify these new organisms and understand how they’ve adapted to such extreme conditions.
Chemosynthetic bacteria are likely playing a crucial role, say the researchers, forming the base of the food web and supporting more complex life forms.
The research also suggests that these deep ecosystems could be more widespread than previously thought, possibly existing in trenches across the globe.
Image (including top image) and video credit: Peng, X., Du, M., Gebruk, A. et al. Flourishing chemosynthetic life at the greatest depths of hadal trenches. Nature (2025).
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