On December 8, 2025, the international academic journal Nature released its "Nature's 10: Ten people who helped shape science in 2025" list. Du Mengran, a geoscientist at the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was named to the list.
Nature noted "2025 was a year when scientists pushed the boundaries of knowledge" "2025 was also a year of disruption." It also praised Du for being a "Deep Diver," as Du and her colleagues discovered the deepest-known animal ecosystem on Earth. That discovery, Nature stated, was one of the most significant scientific events of the year.
Deep diving illuminated a mysterious corner of the hadal zone for Du. Her success is directly related to that of the Global Trench Exploration and Diving Programme (Global TREnD).
Global TREnD, initiated by IDSSE in 2022, is a global project aimed at exploring and comprehending the enigmatic hadal zone, the deepest and least understood region of the oceanic realm. The project uses cutting-edge, deep-sea diving and exploration technologies and equipment while conducting scientific research on geology, environment and life in the deepest part of the world's oceans.
From Passion to Mission
Du, who has longed for the ocean since childhood, enrolled in Ocean University of China's marine chemistry program (in east China's Shandong Province) in 2004. That marked the beginning of her journey of exploring the ocean. In 2014, Du, after obtaining her Ph.D. in the United States, returned to China and joined IDSSE. Her joining IDSSE truly ushered her into full devotion into China's hadal ecosystem research.
In 2011, IDSSE began taking shape. As a young institute, IDSSE attached great importance to innovation, and to cultivating a culture of "action, collaboration, and expedition." IDSSE encourages young scientists to stay focused, not follow trends blindly, and conduct research freely, giving researchers sufficient time to complete original work. IDSSE advocates "risking danger rather than retreating." This "tolerant" environment, which accepts failure, allows researchers to return to the essence of scientific research — exploring all unknowns in nature, without utilitarianism. With the continuous improvement of research facilities at IDSSE, especially since IDSSE became operator and maintainer of the two most notable deep-sea human occupied vehicles (HOVs), — Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) and Fendouzhe (Striver), many young people have the opportunities to pursue their dreams.
There have been positive changes in China's scientific research policies, and academic ecology, in recent years, and those changes have enabled more and more young researchers to exert their talent and undertake major tasks, just as Du has done.
Uncharted Territories
Du's selection to "Nature's 10" list is the result of her dive into a hadal zone in the northwestern area of the Pacific Ocean.
In 2024, Du discovered a deep-sea ecosystem in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and western Aleutian Trench, both in the northwestern area of the Pacific Ocean, by using the HOV Fendouzhe. At a depth of 9,533 meters, the hadal zone hosts the deepest, and most extensive, chemosynthesis-based communities known to exist on Earth. This deep-sea ecosystem is vast, spanning a distance of 2,500 kilometers across the seabed. Instead of relying on sunlight for energy, these communities are sustained by hydrogen sulfide-rich and methane-rich fluids that are transported along faults traversing deep sediment layers in the trenches.
This landmark research results were published in July 2025. One research article and one research briefing were featured in Nature. The research revealed the existence of a previously unknown, and massive, methane reservoir, and a methanogenic biosphere, within the deep hadal sediment layers.
The findings challenged the traditional perspective on the energy sources sustaining hadal fauna, which were predominantly believed to be derived from surface-derived particulate organic matter and carrion fall. Detection of anomalously high methane concentrations, and the potential for gas hydrate formation in the hadal zone, provided new insights into deep carbon cycling.
The discovery, by Global TREnD's team, of this deepest-known and massive chemosynthetic ecosystem on Earth, at the bottom of a 9,500-meter hadal zone, represented a natural wonder, unprecedented in the scientific community. The study revealed the resilience of life at extreme depths, reshaped the scientific community's established understanding of energy sources, in hadal ecosystems and traditional deep-sea carbon cycling models, and prompted a re-evaluation of the deep-sea biosphere and deep-sea carbon cycling.
'Striver' Exploring Unknown
Exploration of a hadal zone generally lasts between three and six months. Working conditions are harsh, but Du says, "conducting scientific research is a very happy thing. The essence of science is to explore the unknown. The eternal quest for truth and the exploration of the unknown are the most enduring joys for humanity."
Global TREnD's team includes many women scientists, engineers and divers. Like Du, those women — who are both witnesses and contributors — are fortunate to stand at the forefront of the rapid development of China's scientific and technological cause. The women are willing to integrate their personal pursuits into the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, live up to their missions, and continue to explore and innovate in hadal zones. They are demonstrating the young generation's strength and talent in the new era.
In addition to conducting scientific research, Du shares her discoveries and knowledge with the public, through science popularization. She promotes deep-sea science popularization and marine-culture dissemination through lectures and other activities, and she works to advance the spirit of China's manned deep-sea diving. Du hopes more people will learn about the deep sea, and that more children will develop an interest in deep-sea science.
In the deep blue sea, there are always unknowns waiting to be discovered. In 2025, China's HOVs dived into the heavily ice-covered areas of the Arctic Ocean. In the future, Du expects to explore the frozen deep sea, to continue the story of exploration.
Photos from IDSSE
(Women of China English Monthly January 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
