A scientific study published in the journal Nature has verified the presence of large marine organisms at extreme depths of the Pacific Ocean. Researchers explored the Kuril–Kamchatka and Aleutian trenches, located in the northwestern Pacific, where they identified tubeworms and mollusks living more than 31,000 feet (9.5 kilometers) below the surface. These areas are known for intense pressure, freezing temperatures, and a complete lack of sunlight. Research teams from the Chinese and Russian Academies of Sciences used an advanced submersible to explore these regions, which were previously considered nearly inaccessible. The discovery provides strong support for earlier theories that larger life forms may exist in the deepest parts of the ocean.

According to scientists, these deep-sea organisms likely depend on a process known as chemosynthesis. In this process, microbes transform carbon compounds, which have slowly collected in the trenches over time, into energy-rich chemicals. These substances either feed larger organisms directly or are exchanged through symbiotic relationships. Experts stated that this kind of biological adaptation challenges earlier assumptions about the limits of life under extreme conditions. Marine biologist Julie Huber explained that the newly discovered diversity at such depths had not been visible before due to limited access. The findings are expected to lead to further studies of the biochemical systems that enable life in these harsh environments. Researchers also suggested that this evidence may guide future exploration of other uncharted regions of the deep ocean, where similar ecosystems may be waiting to be discovered.