“A Riot of Life”

“Know, that in the sea  are many peoples, and various forms of all the kinds that are on the land;  and know, that all that is on the land, is but small in comparison  with what is in the sea.”

And the king wondered at her words.

-- “Gulnare of the Sea”, in The Arabian Nights

When I was but a tad of a lad,  the national focus was on Outer Space.

Sputnik.  Apollo.  Life on Mars? 

But, it turns out, the real surprises were awaiting us  right here on Earth.

This is just the latest:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/deep-sea-vents-just-north-of-antarctica-flourish-with-species-never-seen-before/2011/12/19/gIQAX4NgYP_story.html?hpid=z4

[Update 22 Jan 2012]
And now this as well:
The Other Final Frontier