in 1977 scientists got a surprise. Something was bubbling at the bottom of the ocean. They had found deep sea vents, home to amazing and unusual animals. Jonathan Eisan, one of the scientists investigating the vents, emphasized the discovery's importance. "It told us that life can thrive. Not just grow a little bit, but actually thrive-[evan]in the absence of light." The vents are home to a huge number of creatures. On average, scientists have discovered a new species every 10 days since 1979. Timothy Shank, a marine ecologist, calls the number of new species "mind-boggling" "We're still on the tip of the iceberg", he says.