What important discovery did researchers aboard the Alvin make?

As an AI language model, I do not have information on a specific voyage or mission of Alvin. Kindly provide more context or information so that I can assist you better.

Researchers aboard the Alvin submarine made several important discoveries. The Alvin played a significant role in various scientific expeditions, especially in deep-sea exploration. One remarkable discovery was the exploration of the hydrothermal vents in 1977. These vents were found in the Galapagos Rift near the Pacific Ocean. The researchers aboard the Alvin discovered previously unknown ecosystems thriving in total darkness, with chemosynthetic organisms that relied on the minerals and chemicals released from the vents rather than sunlight for energy. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of life forms and their adaptations to extreme environments.