"vents and black smokers in the mid-oceanic rift" circa 1979

this was the title of first report i recall producing. it was for a 7th grade earth science class. i loved that class. at the time, reports of these "gardens" around deep-sea thermal vents were exciting. before then it was assumed that life needed the sun's rays to flourish - but now we know this incredible diversity existed without access to the sun's rays. however we still cling to the traditional belief in strictly carbon-based, oxygen-dependent life forms. what if life has evolved in a COMPLETELY different way on another planet just as life around those thermal vents have? how much we don't know!!!