Small "Pompeii" worm worm coming out of its tube. These worms
live in the hottest water of any of the vent animals and are one
of the most thermally tolerant animals on Earth. Credit: Stephen
Low Productions. June 26, 2007 A discovery that radically
changed our understanding of the planet we live on celebrates
its 30th anniversary this month. Scientists first discovered
volcanic hot vents surrounded by bizarre animals thriving in
total darkness at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean in 1977 and at
the end of June an international team of scientists, including
many of the original explorers, will honor the landmark
discovery at a special meeting and public event in the Galápagos
Islands, located just south of the discovery site.