The wonders of marine microbial life have long been shrouded in mystery, but new research is now beginning to shed light on what lies beneath the surface. A team of scientists from the University of California, San Diego have challenged some long-held dogmas, such as the notion that photosynthesis is the only source of energy for life in the ocean, and that photosynthetic activity is always limited to the top few meters of water. Through their study of picocyanobacteria in the Pacific Ocean, the team has discovered that these organisms are capable of accessing energy sources from deep in the ocean, and can even survive in the dark waters of the deep sea. This could have major implications for our understanding of the diversity and complexity of microbial life in the ocean, and how it interacts with its environment.

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source: Phys.org