New Discovery: Sea Spider that Eats Methane Deep Under the Ocean!

In the deep ocean off the coast of California, scientists made an astonishing discovery: sea spiders that survive thanks to a unique partnership with bacteria living on their bodies. These bacteria can convert methane—normally a potent greenhouse gas—into food the spiders can use. This is the first time any animal has been found using methane this way, revealing a completely new form of symbiosis in the deep sea. Not only does this challenge what we thought we knew about how animals survive in extreme environments, but it also sheds light on the hidden role marine life may play in the planet’s carbon cycle.