A submersible finds sea creatures thriving in the deepest parts of the ocean

An underwater voyage has revealed a network of creatures thriving at the bottom of deep-sea ocean trenches. Researchers traveling in a submersible along two trenches in the Pacific Ocean found tubeworms and mollusks flourishing at deep depths. The finding shows just how extensive these communities are in extreme environments. The tubeworms and mollusks get their energy from chemical reactions instead of photosynthesis, eating tiny microbes or snacking on the products of their labor. The new research was published Wednesday in the journal Nature.