Blog Post Image: Study Tests Theory that Life Originated at Deep Sea Vents

To collect their samples, the researchers went to hydrothermal vent sites where the chemistry predicted they would find abundant methanethiol, and others where very little was predicted to form. In total, they measured the distribution of methanethiol in 38 hydrothermal fluids from multiple differing geologic environments including systems along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Guaymas Basin, the East Pacific Rise, and the Mid-Cayman Rise – an unprecedented survey – over a period between 2008 and 2012. Image credit: Meg Tivey, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Click image to enlarge)