CHALLENGE

Beyond Sunlight: An Aquatic Chemosynthetic World

Earth's ecosystems heavily rely on sunlight, but imagine an ocean world where chemosynthesis, not photosynthesis, sustains life. Your challenge is to design such a world and its diverse ecosystem, pushing the boundaries of astrobiology beyond traditional Earth-like conditions.

Background

Most ecosystems on Earth heavily rely on sunlight for energy, but on some ocean worlds sunlight is absent, and chemosynthesis, not photosynthesis, could potentially enable life to thrive. While our Sun and solar system play a pivotal role in supporting life on Earth's surface, non-Earth-like planets may sustain life very differently. Ocean worlds can have unique geological features, such as hydrothermal vents and mineral-rich compositions, that could contribute to the environmental conditions necessary for complex life forms to emerge. Exploring the hypothetical scenario of an ocean world where life is sustained by chemosynthesis can push the boundaries of astrobiology and planetary science, and enable us to envision habitability beyond Earth's traditional parameters. New perspectives on ecosystems in the universe and the possible diversity of life can offer insights into the habitability of exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) and the potential for the emergence of life in the cosmos.

Objectives

Your challenge is to utilize publicly available information on ocean worlds to construct a unique habitable ocean world where chemosynthetic instead of photosynthetic processes sustain life. As you embark on this task, think about the parallels between the conditions necessary for life on Earth and those present on your ocean world. In this scenario, the emphasis shifts from the intricate relationships between sunlight, atmosphere, and biological processes to the utilization of chemical energy from geological activities. How could chemical energy derived from geological processes rather than sunlight enable life on your ocean world? As you delve into the complexities of habitable ocean worlds, contemplate the potential forms and adaptations of life that thrive in chemosynthetic environments. Understanding how life might adapt and flourish under such conditions expands our understanding of habitability beyond traditional Earth-like parameters and offers insights into the potential diversity of life in the universe. Use your imagination to create a richly detailed vision of an alien ocean world bursting with unique life forms and ecological dynamics.

Potential Considerations

As you design your ocean world, you may (but are not required to) consider the following:

• Open yourself to endless creative possibilities by exploring a range of artistic media for inspiration!
• This challenge offers opportunities for participants with intermediate to advanced levels of data and design expertise. For instance, you could create a detailed video, 3D image, or AI-generated image of your ocean world along with a 250-500 word description of its appearance, characteristics, and the life it sustains.
• Think about the characteristics of your ocean world. How much water is available? What does the surface of your ocean world look like? You may also consider the following approaches to characterize your ocean world:
  • Energy source: Describe the chemical compounds organisms use that enable chemosynthesis to be the main energy source.
  • Geological features: Identify the ocean world’s geological composition including the presence of hydrothermal vents, volcanic activity, and mineral-rich composition.
  • Biosphere: Propose a diverse ecosystem encompassing microbial communities as well as the potential emergence and diversification of complex life forms, where organisms engage in chemosynthesis and adjust to the extreme conditions of the oceanic environment.
  • Ecosystem dynamics: Demonstrate how chemosynthetic conditions help diverse life thrive and explain the important connections that drive ecological processes in this unique ecosystem.