This shrunken head and cup sit alongside a regular-sized styrofoam coffee cup - their small stature is the result of experiencing 150 times the pressure we experience on land.

Small back smoker spigots on the summit of the black smoker structure called El Guapo in the International District hydrothermal field. which in 2011 was venting 350°C boiling fluids prior to the seafloor eruption in April 2011. Abundant sulfide worms colonize the young sulfide deposits. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V11.

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R/V Thompson, close-up

Martha helping out with the CTD

R/V Thompson from afar

Cody and Matt in the small boat

R/V Thompson, side view

R/V Thompson

Basaltic arches mark a zone of collapse in flow channels from the April eruption at Axial Seamount. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V11.

A glimpse into the subsurface biosphere through a small collapse zone. The white material is thick, dense mats of filamentous bacteria and biofilms that hae grown within the new lava flow erupted in April 2011. Credit; UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1472; V11.

The Thompson from water level

Cody, Matt, and Brendan enjoying the sunshine

Small boat operations

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The Candadian ROV ROPOS recovers Sensorbots from the ASHES hydrothermal field.

Spider crabs are very sensitive to vibrations. This one, at 5000 feet beneath the ocean's surface at Axial Seamount investigated a monkey fist on a piece of equipment on the Canadian ROV ROPOS.

A Flathead Sculpin (Psychrolutes phrictus) hovers in the caldera at Axial Seamount at a water depth of nearly 5000 feet beneath the ocean's surface. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; ROPOS Dive R1470; V11.

ROPOS prepares to cut parachute cord that was attached to an expendable transponder. The transponder was recovered aboard the R/V Thompson.

An anchor for an expendable transponder rests atop a pillow basalt flow. The transponder was recovered. Credit: UW/NSF-OOI/CSSF; V11.

Adrian Rembold is excited to take a ride in the small boat to recover a transponder that was released by ROPOS. (photo by Ed McNichol)

Alexandra Powell from the University of Western Ontario helps to prepare samples from a CTD cast for helium samples. (photo by Allison Fundis) 

The ROV ROPOS during its launch for dive #1471 on August 27th. 

ROPOS pilot Jonathan Lee controls the ROV as it begins its descent down through the water column. APL-UW engineer James Tilley operates the HD camera in the background. (photo by Mitch Elend) 

Filamentous bacteria coat the outer surfaces of the sulfide chimney called Castle in the International District Hydrothermal Field on the eastern side of the Axial Seamount caldera. Warm fluids emanate from a small vent beneath Castle, supporting the microbial communities.

Co-chief Scientist Debbie Kelley shows the difference between a normal sized Styrofoam head with one that was shrunken by sending it to ~1000 meters water depth. (photo by Allison Fundis)