International scientists continue to publish shocking images and analysis of a geological wonder hidden west of a mountain range in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Under the lights of remote-controlled diving equipment, a super-real scene is created, looking exactly like the ruins of an forgotten ancient civilization.
Ice-colored cliffs and carbonate pillars reflect mysterious gray blue light, rising from the black seabed.
This natural architectural complex is extremely diverse, from small mushroom-shaped stones to giant monolithic stone columns up to 60m high.
It is this mysterious beauty and massive scale that has led scientists to name it "Lost City". First discovered at a depth of over 700m, this is the oldest hydrothermal field ever found in the ocean with a history of at least 120,000 years.
Unlike anywhere else on the planet, this city operates a life completely separated from sunlight. Here, the geological coating reacts chemically with seawater to spray out hydrogen and methane gas columns that are up to 40 degrees Celsius hot.
These natural "smoke pipes" act as power plants, nurturing a rich ecosystem right in cracks and rock cavities. This city is not deserted but is home to thousands of small snails and crustaceans clinging to the cliffs.
Although more rare, larger residents such as crabs, shrimp, lizards and sea eels still squeeze through the "towers", creating a picture of vibrant life in a harsh oxygen-deprived environment.
2024 marks a turning point when researchers successfully recovered a record 1.268m long rock core sample from this area. The specimen is providing valuable clues about how primitive life originated on Earth billions of years ago.
More importantly, the fact that hydrocarbons here are formed entirely from chemical reactions under the seabed has opened up a bold hypothesis about the universe.
Microbiologist William Brazelton believes that the ecosystem in the Missing City is a model for what may be happening on distant celestial bodies.
It is very likely that under the thick ice of the moon Enceladus of Saturn or Europa of Jupiter, similar cities are also existing and nurturing strange life forms that humanity has never known.
