The deep ocean is more alive than we thought! 🌊

Hidden deep-sea microbes are key players in fixing carbon and regulating Earth’s climate.

New research shows unexpected microbes are fixing carbon in ways that help stabilize Earth’s climate. Learn how heterotrophs are reshaping the deep-sea food web.

The deep ocean, long thought to be a quiet, dark expanse where carbon fixation is limited, is proving to be far more active than scientists expected. Recent research from the University of California – Santa Barbara reveals that unexpected microbes are playing a crucial role in converting carbon dioxide into organic matter in sunless waters. This discovery challenges decades-old assumptions and offers new insights into the mechanisms by which the ocean stabilizes Earth’s climate.