Only a fraction of the oceans’ floors has been explored, yet scientists already know that microbial communities are thriving in the extreme and often bizarre landscapes of the deep sea. Harvard University geobiologist Jeffrey Marlowe shares findings from his expeditions to the bottom of the oceans—including investigations of microbes that consume 90 percent of the methane coming up from the seafloor—and highlights the growing need to protect these communities which we’re only just beginning to understand.

To see Marlowe’s photos and videos of these rarely-seen landscapes, watch the video version of this SciCafe on the Museum's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQr790zKBW8

The full transcript of this SciCafe is available here: https://www.amnh.org/explore/news-blogs/podcasts/podcast-scicafe-microbial-worlds-of-the-deep-sea-with-jeffrey-marlowe

This program was made possible by OceanX, an initiative of the Dalio Foundation, as part of its generous support of the special exhibition Unseen Oceans and its related educational activities and public programs.