Discovering Black Smokers Unknown of the Ocean Base The Enigmatic Black Smokers Do you ever consider those black enormous chimneys which release the dark clouds of smoke from the bottom of the sea? These fascinating structures which are also referred to as black smokers are quite wonders of the underwater geophysical geography and are home to a myriad of young research interests and biological importance. Hydrothermal vents and black smokers Black smokers are a sort of hydrothermal vent that exists on the boundaries of tectonic plates and the areas of volcanic activities. These vents are formed through the hot water that is procured through cracks in the floor of the sea, by the under ground geological heat. The water is progressively heated and turns into steam, which goes up along with various dissolved minerals and materials from the Earth’s crust. When this superheated, mineral-laden water is expelled from the seafloor, it mixes with the colder seawater which makes the dissol...

   The Mysterious Racetrack Playa: Where Rocks Walk; Or Rocks Apparently in Motion The Racetrack Playa: An oddity in the ground Located in the area referred by most people as the Death Valley in the state of California in the northwestern side of the country is the Racetrack Playa. This is by far one of the flattest, driest true natural lakes one could ever find and has the ability to mesmerize any scientist or tourist. Growing to a height of 3. Average depth of 8 centimeters, Racetrack Playa is a small, flat, and closed depression with ridges around and is flooded for a short period of time throughout the year. The true beauty of this special terrain is in the mysterious nature of what is called ‘sailing stones’ – flat stones which vary in weight from some hundreds of grams to some hundreds of kilograms with noticeable evident tracks etched upon the surface; stones that appear to move of their own accord with no sign of human or animal influence. How Do the Sailing Stones Wor...