Answer:
Scientists have long assumed that life on Earth originated in the oceans and the recent discovery of communities of microbes and animals that congregate around hot spring vents in the deep sea has buoyed speculation that the earliest life on our planet may have occurred in the depths of the ocean in the absence of sunlight. Deep Sea hot spring vents are places on the seafloor where hot water exits the ocean crust and comes to the surface. The hot water forms when seawater is heated in young ocean crust (usually close to spreading centers and areas of volcanic activity). Associated with these vents are living communities that exist thousands of meters beneath the surface of the sea, first discovered them in the late 1970's. Up to that time it had always been assumed that life required sunlight, but we now know the communities that live near these deep sea vents can exist on thermal and chemical energy provided by the vent. Thus, there life does not necessarily need sunlight and photosynthesis to prosper.
