Even the deepest spot on the ocean floor supports a vigorous microbial ecosystem, according to new research. An international collaboration found that in the Mariana Trench—nearly 11 kilometers (7 miles) below the surface—microbes easily metabolize the organic matter that falls to this depth, despite enduring 1,000 times more pressure than organisms at sea level. The findings, published today (March 17) in Nature Geoscience, demonstrate that these microbial communities have evolved adaptations to survive—and thrive—under extreme pressure.