Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, scientists have discovered a mysterious and fascinating underwater world that may hold the key to understanding the origin of life on Earth. The vast field of mineral towers, known as "The Lost City," is the oldest known hydrothermal system in the ocean. Scientists believe its extreme conditions reflect those of ancient Earth and provide clues as to how the first forms of life may have appeared. Scientists estimate that the Lost City has existed for over 120,000 years, making it the oldest hydrothermal vent field ever discovered. In a recent breakthrough, scientists were able to recover a core sample of mantle rock from the site. This rock is a deep Earth source that fuels the hydrothermal vent system.
The core sample may help scientists better understand the chemical reactions occurring 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 crucial role in the emergence of life on Earth billions of years ago.
Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, scientists have discovered a mysterious and fascinating underwater world that may hold the key to understanding the origin of life on Earth. The vast field of mineral towers, known as "The Lost City," is the oldest known hydrothermal system in the ocean. Scientists believe its extreme conditions reflect those of ancient Earth and provide clues as to how the first forms of life may have appeared. Scientists estimate that the Lost City has existed for over 120,000 years, making it the oldest hydrothermal vent field ever discovered. In a recent breakthrough, scientists were able to recover a core sample of mantle rock from the site. This rock is a deep Earth source that fuels the hydrothermal vent system.
The core sample may help scientists better understand the chemical reactions occurring 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 crucial role in the emergence of life on Earth billions of years ago.
The Lost City is made up of impressive carbonate rock towers, some reaching up to 60 meters in height, formed by a unique geological reaction called serpentinization, in which seawater reacts with mantle rock deep beneath the seafloor. Some of these spires have grown to 60 meters over tens of thousands of years. These reactions release methane and hydrogen gases, which feed microbial life capable of surviving without sunlight or oxygen—a very rare phenomenon on Earth. The site is located about 15 kilometers west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, slightly south of the Azores Islands. Its remote and isolated location has meant that no human activity occurred there for thousands of years, preserving an ecosystem that allows us to glimpse the conditions of ancient Earth.
At every hydrothermal vent on site, hot alkaline fluids are released. These fluids create a stable environment for life in one of the most extreme corners of the planet. Inside the tall chimneys, the fluids reach temperatures of up to 90°C—not boiling, but warm enough to enable a variety of chemical reactions. These vents produce hydrocarbons, organic compounds made of carbon and hydrogen, which are considered the building blocks of life. What makes this site especially unique is that its hydrocarbons are formed through deep-Earth chemical reactions, not through sunlight or photosynthesis. This makes the Lost City a rare example of how life could have originated.
Microbes inside these chimneys live in complete darkness, without oxygen, using methane and hydrogen as their only fuel. On the outer surfaces of the structures, rare animals such as shrimp, snails, sea urchins, and sea serpents can be found clinging to the mineral-rich structures. Larger animals are not common at this site, likely because the energy supply is limited. Unlike surface ecosystems, there is no sunlight or abundant food chain here—only chemical nutrients dripping from the vents.
Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, scientists have discovered a mysterious and fascinating underwater world that may hold the key to understanding the origin of life on Earth. The vast field of mineral towers, known as "The Lost City," is the oldest known hydrothermal system in the ocean. Scientists believe its extreme conditions reflect those of ancient Earth and provide clues as to how the first forms of life may have appeared. Scientists estimate that the Lost City has existed for over 120,000 years, making it the oldest hydrothermal vent field ever discovered. In a recent breakthrough, scientists were able to recover a core sample of mantle rock from the site. This rock is a deep Earth source that fuels the hydrothermal vent system.
The core sample may help scientists better understand the chemical reactions occurring 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 crucial role in the emergence of life on Earth billions of years ago.
The Lost City is made up of impressive carbonate rock towers, some reaching up to 60 meters in height, formed by a unique geological reaction called serpentinization, in which seawater reacts with mantle rock deep beneath the seafloor. Some of these spires have grown to 60 meters over tens of thousands of years. These reactions release methane and hydrogen gases, which feed microbial life capable of surviving without sunlight or oxygen—a very rare phenomenon on Earth. The site is located about 15 kilometers west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, slightly south of the Azores Islands. Its remote and isolated location has meant that no human activity occurred there for thousands of years, preserving an ecosystem that allows us to glimpse the conditions of ancient Earth.
At every hydrothermal vent on site, hot alkaline fluids are released. These fluids create a stable environment for life in one of the most extreme corners of the planet. Inside the tall chimneys, the fluids reach temperatures of up to 90°C—not boiling, but warm enough to enable a variety of chemical reactions. These vents produce hydrocarbons, organic compounds made of carbon and hydrogen, which are considered the building blocks of life. What makes this site especially unique is that its hydrocarbons are formed through deep-Earth chemical reactions, not through sunlight or photosynthesis. This makes the Lost City a rare example of how life could have originated.
Microbes inside these chimneys live in complete darkness, without oxygen, using methane and hydrogen as their only fuel. On the outer surfaces of the structures, rare animals such as shrimp, snails, sea urchins, and sea serpents can be found clinging to the mineral-rich structures. Larger animals are not common at this site, likely because the energy supply is limited. Unlike surface ecosystems, there is no sunlight or abundant food chain here—only chemical nutrients dripping from the vents.
Microbiologist William Brazelton told Smithsonian Magazine: “This is an example of the kind of ecosystem that could be active on Enceladus or Europa right now.” Enceladus and Europa are moons of Saturn and Jupiter, respectively, and have oceans beneath an ice crust, raising hopes that similar life could exist beyond Earth. Now, with renewed global attention, scientists believe the Lost City may help explain how life first arose from non-living matter—a mystery that remains unsolved in biology. Scientists say the chimneys function like natural laboratories, demonstrating how life might develop in environments without sunlight, plants, or animals.
Although the Lost City itself lacks minable materials, nearby areas could be targeted for future deep-sea mining, raising concerns about preserving this unique site. While the Lost City itself does not contain minerals of economic value, surrounding areas have vent fields that may contain polymetallic sulfides—materials sought after by mining companies. This is where the danger to preserving this unique site lies.
In 2017, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) granted the Polish government a 15-year exploration license for an area in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that includes the area around the Lost City. Mining near hydrothermal vents can stir up sediment plumes, release toxic chemicals or particles that drift through the water column, and harm nearby ecosystems—even if the site itself isn’t directly affected. The Convention on Biological Diversity has already designated the Lost City as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area (EBSA), due to its uniqueness, biodiversity, and scientific value. EBSA status gives scientists a lever of influence to advocate for protection measures, though it does not confer legal protection. At the same time, UNESCO is reviewing the site for potential World Heritage status, which could offer stronger international backing against mining and disturbance. Scientists argue that such conservation efforts are urgently needed. Once delicate ecosystems like this are disturbed, they may never recover—and we risk losing a living and unique example of how life might have begun on Earth.