Soru

In 1977, geologists exploring the Galapagos Rift made a discovery that transformed our understanding of life on Earth. Using the deep-sea submersible *Alvin*, researchers descended more than 8,000 feet to the ocean floor, where tectonic plates pull apart and hydrothermal vents spew superheated, mineral-rich water into the pitch-black abyss. Scientists expected to find a biological desert, assuming that the lack of sunlight would prevent photosynthesis and thus support only a sparse population of scavengers reliant on organic debris drifting down from the surface. Instead, they were astonished to find thriving, dense communities of giant tube worms, clams, and crabs crowded around the vents. The key to this vibrant ecosystem was not sunlight, but chemosynthetic bacteria. These microbes utilize toxic hydrogen sulfide escaping from the vents as an energy source to convert inorganic carbon into organic matter, forming the foundation of a previously unimagined food web. This discovery expanded the search for extraterrestrial life, suggesting that organisms could thrive on icy moons like Europa or Enceladus, where subterranean oceans are kept warm by tidal forces rather than solar radiation. Ultimately, the Galapagos expedition did not just add a new habitat to the biological catalog; it forced scientists to redefine the planetary conditions under which life can originate and flourish.

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the passage?