Hydrothermal Vent Theory

Hydrothermal vent theory suggests that life on Earth may have originated around deep-sea vents where seawater interacts with hot, mineral-rich rock beneath the ocean floor. These vents emit superheated fluids containing chemicals necessary for life. The unique environment provides energy and raw materials that could have facilitated the formation of complex organic molecules, leading to the emergence of primitive life forms. This theory highlights how extreme, but stable, ecosystems thrive without sunlight, offering clues about early life development on Earth and possibly on other planets with similar conditions.