Hydrothermal Deep Sea Vents    Below are links to web sites that discuss various aspects of vent geology, chemistry, and biology. You do not have to read everything below; just find what works for you and use it.     Your assignment is to gathering information from these web pages, or their links, and in one page or so (typewritten) explain to someone who knows nothing about them, what vents are, why they are important biologically and geologically, and what bearing they have on understanding the oldest life forms.    Vents Program; U.S. Department of Commerce (lots of links)    Deep Sea Exploration: Submarine Volcanoes and Hydrothermal Vents (nice links)    Vents Video Clips    Ocean Planet: Smithsonian - lots of links to related sites.    PBS Online: Nova - Living at Extremes    Vent geochemistry    Scientists Witness Creation of New Hydrothermal Vents on Seafloor    The Oceans Chimneys - Hydrothermal Vents    What are Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents?    Black Smokers and Giant Worms    Science News Online - Live First Scalding Steps    Return to Biology/Geology 350 - Invertebrate Paleontology