An international research team led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel has discovered a globally unique system on the seabed off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Hydrothermal vents and methane seeps usually occur in different places on the seabed. At the same time, this magmatic heat also drives mineral-rich fluids upwards, where they emerge as hot vents at the seabed. The unusual gas composition at the Karambusel field influences both the communities of life and the geological features. Brandl: “We have discovered an unexpected treasure trove of biodiversity in the Karambusel field that needs to be protected before economic interests destroy it.”