Lost City Under the Sea: A 60-Meter Habitat That Could Rewrite Life's Origins
Scientists describe the Lost City hydrothermal field off the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, featuring calcite chimneys up to 60 meters tall and vents that emit hydrogen- and methane-rich fluids, supporting life without magma heat and potentially shedding light on how life began on Earth and perhaps on icy worlds; a 2024 1,268‑meter mantle rock core from the site could hold crucial clues, and the ecosystem’s uniqueness and mining threats have spurred calls to protect it, potentially as a World Heritage site.