Discovered in 1977 near the Galápagos Islands, hydrothermal vents are openings in the ocean floor where superheated water — up to 400°C — escapes from the Earth's crust. These vents support entirely unique ecosystems based on chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis. Giant tube worms up to 2 meters long, white crabs, and specialized shrimp cluster around the vents, thriving on bacteria that convert hydrogen sulfide into energy. The discovery of these communities fundamentally changed our understanding of where and how life can exist.