well I’m really happy to be here with everybody this evening and share with
everybody this evening and share with
everybody this evening and share with you a bit of a potpourri from an alien
you a bit of a potpourri from an alien
you a bit of a potpourri from an alien planet from an alien planet that is near
planet from an alien planet that is near
planet from an alien planet that is near and dear to our hearts because we live
and dear to our hearts because we live
and dear to our hearts because we live on it and because we live on it we think
on it and because we live on it we think
on it and because we live on it we think we know about it but the truth is that
we know about it but the truth is that
we know about it but the truth is that there are huge vast tracts of the
there are huge vast tracts of the
there are huge vast tracts of the surface and particularly the subsurface
surface and particularly the subsurface
surface and particularly the subsurface that are really unknown to us and so
that are really unknown to us and so
that are really unknown to us and so each one of these little planet lips
each one of these little planet lips
each one of these little planet lips that go to make up our planet actually
that go to make up our planet actually
that go to make up our planet actually harbors life-forms and conditions that
harbors life-forms and conditions that
harbors life-forms and conditions that are radically different from what we
are radically different from what we
are radically different from what we experience on the surface and my way of
experience on the surface and my way of
experience on the surface and my way of substituting for getting into my rocket
substituting for getting into my rocket
substituting for getting into my rocket ship and cruising the galaxy looking for
ship and cruising the galaxy looking for
ship and cruising the galaxy looking for cool life-forms which is what I grew up
cool life-forms which is what I grew up
cool life-forms which is what I grew up wanting to do is to have stayed closer
wanting to do is to have stayed closer
wanting to do is to have stayed closer to home because I don’t have a rocket
to home because I don’t have a rocket
to home because I don’t have a rocket ship yet come on NASA and try to explore
ship yet come on NASA and try to explore
ship yet come on NASA and try to explore templates for the kind of life that we
templates for the kind of life that we
templates for the kind of life that we might find on the planets in our own
might find on the planets in our own
might find on the planets in our own solar system and what kinds of
solar system and what kinds of
solar system and what kinds of signatures would those leave well
signatures would those leave well
signatures would those leave well National Geographic has played a big
National Geographic has played a big
National Geographic has played a big role in my life I had my first magazine
role in my life I had my first magazine
role in my life I had my first magazine subscription as a little kid
subscription as a little kid
subscription as a little kid courtesy of my cousin in 1968 early on
courtesy of my cousin in 1968 early on
courtesy of my cousin in 1968 early on in my attention to caves they sponsors
in my attention to caves they sponsors
in my attention to caves they sponsors some of our work and this is the
some of our work and this is the
some of our work and this is the centerfold from the January 2000 I
centerfold from the January 2000 I
centerfold from the January 2000 I actually was able to be a centerfold
actually was able to be a centerfold
actually was able to be a centerfold model and looking as glamorous as I
model and looking as glamorous as I
model and looking as glamorous as I usually look in these kinds of deals and
usually look in these kinds of deals and
usually look in these kinds of deals and there I am with Diana Northup and Mike’s
there I am with Diana Northup and Mike’s
there I am with Diana Northup and Mike’s ability two colleagues from the
ability two colleagues from the
ability two colleagues from the University of New Mexico and I’m diving
University of New Mexico and I’m diving
University of New Mexico and I’m diving for flame ball Matt’s totally suited up
for flame ball Matt’s totally suited up
for flame ball Matt’s totally suited up if you’ve read the the magazine article
if you’ve read the the magazine article
if you’ve read the the magazine article this time around you will know that we
this time around you will know that we
this time around you will know that we are still working on that system 15
are still working on that system 15
are still working on that system 15 years later and we are still mystified
years later and we are still mystified
years later and we are still mystified by the
by the
by the Mendes amount of biological activity in
Mendes amount of biological activity in
Mendes amount of biological activity in what is to us an extremely toxic
what is to us an extremely toxic
what is to us an extremely toxic environment this is why we’re all duded
environment this is why we’re all duded
environment this is why we’re all duded up because we are kind of life-form
up because we are kind of life-form
up because we are kind of life-form humans and higher animals find this kind
humans and higher animals find this kind
humans and higher animals find this kind of environment very toxic but we are
of environment very toxic but we are
of environment very toxic but we are still looking at snottites these are the
still looking at snottites these are the
still looking at snottites these are the famous snottites and I’m gazing lovingly
famous snottites and I’m gazing lovingly
famous snottites and I’m gazing lovingly at them and taking samples of them which
at them and taking samples of them which
at them and taking samples of them which we will haul back to the lab and then
we will haul back to the lab and then
we will haul back to the lab and then try to poke them with sticks and get
try to poke them with sticks and get
try to poke them with sticks and get them to grow and look at their DNA guts
them to grow and look at their DNA guts
them to grow and look at their DNA guts and all that kind of stuff but this is
and all that kind of stuff but this is
and all that kind of stuff but this is not where my caving career started it
not where my caving career started it
not where my caving career started it actually also started by way of a
actually also started by way of a
actually also started by way of a National Geographic special that was
National Geographic special that was
National Geographic special that was called mysteries underground in 1992 and
called mysteries underground in 1992 and
called mysteries underground in 1992 and that same year with several other
that same year with several other
that same year with several other colleagues I had published a paper
colleagues I had published a paper
colleagues I had published a paper suggesting that the best place to look
suggesting that the best place to look
suggesting that the best place to look for life on Mars was not on the surface
for life on Mars was not on the surface
for life on Mars was not on the surface of Mars but would be in the subsurface
of Mars but would be in the subsurface
of Mars but would be in the subsurface and I was looking for a way to get into
and I was looking for a way to get into
and I was looking for a way to get into the subsurface of Earth to see what we
the subsurface of Earth to see what we
the subsurface of Earth to see what we could find down there and I was way too
could find down there and I was way too
could find down there and I was way too poor to actually do drilling and we
poor to actually do drilling and we
poor to actually do drilling and we couldn’t get anybody to pay for it and
couldn’t get anybody to pay for it and
couldn’t get anybody to pay for it and we saw this National Geographic special
we saw this National Geographic special
we saw this National Geographic special and it said a couple of really important
and it said a couple of really important
and it said a couple of really important things about the cave it said it was
things about the cave it said it was
things about the cave it said it was pristine that it had been dug into which
pristine that it had been dug into which
pristine that it had been dug into which meant less contamination it had a lot of
meant less contamination it had a lot of
meant less contamination it had a lot of sulfur and we already knew that Mars was
sulfur and we already knew that Mars was
sulfur and we already knew that Mars was a very sulfur rich planet and then the
a very sulfur rich planet and then the
a very sulfur rich planet and then the third thing was that one of the
third thing was that one of the
third thing was that one of the geologists from the USGS Geological
geologists from the USGS Geological
geologists from the USGS Geological Survey said that he thought he had seen
Survey said that he thought he had seen
Survey said that he thought he had seen some kind of little microbial life forms
some kind of little microbial life forms
some kind of little microbial life forms on some of the formations and so we were
on some of the formations and so we were
on some of the formations and so we were sold and we called him up and we said
sold and we called him up and we said
sold and we called him up and we said you don’t know us but we’re from NASA
you don’t know us but we’re from NASA
you don’t know us but we’re from NASA and we’d like to go into your cave so we
and we’d like to go into your cave so we
and we’d like to go into your cave so we trained for three hours which if we had
trained for three hours which if we had
trained for three hours which if we had known then what we know now of course
known then what we know now of course
known then what we know now of course this was completely nuts and then we
this was completely nuts and then we
this was completely nuts and then we went on an expedition for five days into
went on an expedition for five days into
went on an expedition for five days into this cave now this cave is a huge system
this cave now this cave is a huge system
this cave now this cave is a huge system it’s a hundred and thirty-eight miles of
it’s a hundred and thirty-eight miles of
it’s a hundred and thirty-eight miles of map passage so far and exploration is
map passage so far and exploration is
map passage so far and exploration is still under way of course we were
still under way of course we were
still under way of course we were captivated by many of the scenes that
captivated by many of the scenes that
captivated by many of the scenes that you see this is a beautiful image of
you see this is a beautiful image of
you see this is a beautiful image of what’s known as the chandelier ballroom
what’s known as the chandelier ballroom
what’s known as the chandelier ballroom these are big sila night crystals but
these are big sila night crystals but
these are big sila night crystals but really the quarry that I am always after
really the quarry that I am always after
really the quarry that I am always after is shown in these orange materials
is shown in these orange materials
is shown in these orange materials behind where the young man is standing
behind where the young man is standing
behind where the young man is standing this brown stuff in the middle it’s not
this brown stuff in the middle it’s not
this brown stuff in the middle it’s not a spectacular but this is where the real
a spectacular but this is where the real
a spectacular but this is where the real quarry lay and there are some of my
quarry lay and there are some of my
quarry lay and there are some of my little friends now these are all
little friends now these are all
little friends now these are all microorganism types that are unknown to
microorganism types that are unknown to
microorganism types that are unknown to science in fact virtually everything we
science in fact virtually everything we
science in fact virtually everything we find in the subsurface is unknown in the
find in the subsurface is unknown in the
find in the subsurface is unknown in the databases that we have of surface
databases that we have of surface
databases that we have of surface life-forms the tiny ones there we call
life-forms the tiny ones there we call
life-forms the tiny ones there we call them the tiny guys isn’t that original
them the tiny guys isn’t that original
them the tiny guys isn’t that original these guys are about 100 nanometers
these guys are about 100 nanometers
these guys are about 100 nanometers across one of your hairs is about 100
across one of your hairs is about 100
across one of your hairs is about 100 micrometer x’ across so this is a
micrometer x’ across so this is a
micrometer x’ across so this is a thousand times smaller than that and
thousand times smaller than that and
thousand times smaller than that and these are some of the smallest
these are some of the smallest
these are some of the smallest life-forms that are clearly growing and
life-forms that are clearly growing and
life-forms that are clearly growing and alive that have ever been found
alive that have ever been found
alive that have ever been found the ones with hairy bits sticking off
the ones with hairy bits sticking off
the ones with hairy bits sticking off when we call them Smurfs for obvious
when we call them Smurfs for obvious
when we call them Smurfs for obvious reasons and then the others are the
reasons and then the others are the
reasons and then the others are the death stars well these are just a few of
death stars well these are just a few of
death stars well these are just a few of the microbial forms that we see in the
the microbial forms that we see in the
the microbial forms that we see in the subsurface and this is really what got
subsurface and this is really what got
subsurface and this is really what got us going and really caused me to focus
us going and really caused me to focus
us going and really caused me to focus my career from a lot of the surface
my career from a lot of the surface
my career from a lot of the surface extreme systems that I had been looking
extreme systems that I had been looking
extreme systems that I had been looking at up until that point in my career I
at up until that point in my career I
at up until that point in my career I just want to dazzle you with cool stuff
just want to dazzle you with cool stuff
just want to dazzle you with cool stuff okay so one of the amazing things about
okay so one of the amazing things about
okay so one of the amazing things about caves is just how big the spaces can be
caves is just how big the spaces can be
caves is just how big the spaces can be underground here’s a couple of examples
underground here’s a couple of examples
underground here’s a couple of examples and if you’ve never been to Carlsbad or
and if you’ve never been to Carlsbad or
and if you’ve never been to Carlsbad or Mammoth Cave or any of the beautiful
Mammoth Cave or any of the beautiful
Mammoth Cave or any of the beautiful show caves around the world this is
show caves around the world this is
show caves around the world this is probably what you are looking at
probably what you are looking at
probably what you are looking at something like that but there are many
something like that but there are many
something like that but there are many other peculiar and amazing structures so
other peculiar and amazing structures so
other peculiar and amazing structures so see all that white material when you’re
see all that white material when you’re
see all that white material when you’re actually there it’s sort of sparkles
actually there it’s sort of sparkles
actually there it’s sort of sparkles like sugar there’s 18 kilometers this
like sugar there’s 18 kilometers this
like sugar there’s 18 kilometers this River underground this is snowy River in
River underground this is snowy River in
River underground this is snowy River in Fort Stanton cave about only an hour and
Fort Stanton cave about only an hour and
Fort Stanton cave about only an hour and a half away from my campus but the thing
a half away from my campus but the thing
a half away from my campus but the thing that gets us about this is not just a
that gets us about this is not just a
that gets us about this is not just a spectacular mineralogy but all those
spectacular mineralogy but all those
spectacular mineralogy but all those dark streaks on the wall that’s where
dark streaks on the wall that’s where
dark streaks on the wall that’s where the real action is you can almost hear
the real action is you can almost hear
the real action is you can almost hear them calling they’re saying hey hey
them calling they’re saying hey hey
them calling they’re saying hey hey stupid we’re up here and they’re tiny
stupid we’re up here and they’re tiny
stupid we’re up here and they’re tiny little microbial voices and when we take
little microbial voices and when we take
little microbial voices and when we take samples of those we can find that sure
samples of those we can find that sure
samples of those we can find that sure enough they are made by bacteria that
enough they are made by bacteria that
enough they are made by bacteria that make their living a chemical
make their living a chemical
make their living a chemical transformation of minerals that contain
transformation of minerals that contain
transformation of minerals that contain the element manganese this is a pretty
the element manganese this is a pretty
the element manganese this is a pretty exotic way of making your living they
exotic way of making your living they
exotic way of making your living they don’t eat sandwiches for lunch like we
don’t eat sandwiches for lunch like we
don’t eat sandwiches for lunch like we do they eat rock and minerals and this
do they eat rock and minerals and this
do they eat rock and minerals and this is ubiquitous in these kinds of systems
is ubiquitous in these kinds of systems
is ubiquitous in these kinds of systems this is one of my colleagues crawling
this is one of my colleagues crawling
this is one of my colleagues crawling through some of that beautiful white
through some of that beautiful white
through some of that beautiful white material in this material besides its
material in this material besides its
material in this material besides its beauty it also contains fossilized
beauty it also contains fossilized
beauty it also contains fossilized microorganisms so we can see that the
microorganisms so we can see that the
microorganisms so we can see that the cave is preserving not only the live
cave is preserving not only the live
cave is preserving not only the live guys that we can go in and look for now
guys that we can go in and look for now
guys that we can go in and look for now but also the potential for preserving
but also the potential for preserving
but also the potential for preserving that material into the future to be
that material into the future to be
that material into the future to be tested this is a potpourri of some of
tested this is a potpourri of some of
tested this is a potpourri of some of our little friends the upper-left-hand
our little friends the upper-left-hand
our little friends the upper-left-hand is spots of goo and little colonies and
is spots of goo and little colonies and
is spots of goo and little colonies and all of that is alive there are probably
all of that is alive there are probably
all of that is alive there are probably two or three thousand strains of
two or three thousand strains of
two or three thousand strains of microbes in there not a single one of
microbes in there not a single one of
microbes in there not a single one of which is very closely related to
which is very closely related to
which is very closely related to anything on the surface this isn’t a
anything on the surface this isn’t a
anything on the surface this isn’t a lava tube cave in Hawaii the upper right
lava tube cave in Hawaii the upper right
lava tube cave in Hawaii the upper right hand side is what under some
hand side is what under some
hand side is what under some circumstances would just turn into an
circumstances would just turn into an
circumstances would just turn into an ordinary stalagmite dripping water
ordinary stalagmite dripping water
ordinary stalagmite dripping water saturated with mineral and yet in some
saturated with mineral and yet in some
saturated with mineral and yet in some circumstances it turns into nests of
circumstances it turns into nests of
circumstances it turns into nests of so-called cave pearls why we think it’s
so-called cave pearls why we think it’s
so-called cave pearls why we think it’s biology we think it’s the gooey biofilm
biology we think it’s the gooey biofilm
biology we think it’s the gooey biofilm that microbes produced that actually
that microbes produced that actually
that microbes produced that actually causes that to occur in a mine in
causes that to occur in a mine in
causes that to occur in a mine in northern Minnesota called the Sudan mine
northern Minnesota called the Sudan mine
northern Minnesota called the Sudan mine there are bore holes very narrow that go
there are bore holes very narrow that go
there are bore holes very narrow that go down to much deeper levels and when you
down to much deeper levels and when you
down to much deeper levels and when you sample those deeper levels you still
sample those deeper levels you still
sample those deeper levels you still find microorganisms they’re even more
find microorganisms they’re even more
find microorganisms they’re even more exotic and making their living in a
exotic and making their living in a
exotic and making their living in a totally non oxygen environment this is a
totally non oxygen environment this is a
totally non oxygen environment this is a salty briny iron mush that they’re
salty briny iron mush that they’re
salty briny iron mush that they’re living in and you can see little bubbles
living in and you can see little bubbles
living in and you can see little bubbles of their activity coming up from below
of their activity coming up from below
of their activity coming up from below in that same mine on a March afternoon
in that same mine on a March afternoon
in that same mine on a March afternoon in 1962 the miners were told that the
in 1962 the miners were told that the
in 1962 the miners were told that the mine closed and they threw down all
mine closed and they threw down all
mine closed and they threw down all their stuff and left and discussed 50
their stuff and left and discussed 50
their stuff and left and discussed 50 years later what we find are these
years later what we find are these
years later what we find are these structures that you can see this Tower
structures that you can see this Tower
structures that you can see this Tower of dark material actually growing on one
of dark material actually growing on one
of dark material actually growing on one of those miners jackets that had been
of those miners jackets that had been
of those miners jackets that had been guarded on that day and this is entirely
guarded on that day and this is entirely
guarded on that day and this is entirely composed of iron and manganese utilizing
composed of iron and manganese utilizing
composed of iron and manganese utilizing microorganisms and the minerals that
microorganisms and the minerals that
microorganisms and the minerals that they excrete if you go to southeast
they excrete if you go to southeast
they excrete if you go to southeast Alaska and are lucky enough to be able
Alaska and are lucky enough to be able
Alaska and are lucky enough to be able to find one of the caves that exists
to find one of the caves that exists
to find one of the caves that exists there in the Tongass National Forest and
there in the Tongass National Forest and
there in the Tongass National Forest and you take a sample of some of the
you take a sample of some of the
you take a sample of some of the material there and you bring it back to
material there and you bring it back to
material there and you bring it back to the laboratory and look at it with a
the laboratory and look at it with a
the laboratory and look at it with a scanning electron microscope you will
scanning electron microscope you will
scanning electron microscope you will see this beautiful forest of crystals
see this beautiful forest of crystals
see this beautiful forest of crystals all of those filamentous things that you
all of those filamentous things that you
all of those filamentous things that you see weaving through them our microbes
see weaving through them our microbes
see weaving through them our microbes and the microbes are facilitating the
and the microbes are facilitating the
and the microbes are facilitating the creation of these beautiful structures
creation of these beautiful structures
creation of these beautiful structures here these pool out of which these
here these pool out of which these
here these pool out of which these fluffy footballs or proof balls we call
fluffy footballs or proof balls we call
fluffy footballs or proof balls we call them this is the poof ball see and this
them this is the poof ball see and this
them this is the poof ball see and this is a system that is always right around
is a system that is always right around
is a system that is always right around or below freezing so you can see that
or below freezing so you can see that
or below freezing so you can see that the temperature range within which we
the temperature range within which we
the temperature range within which we can operate is really great this system
can operate is really great this system
can operate is really great this system is in Ukraine this is one of the largest
is in Ukraine this is one of the largest
is in Ukraine this is one of the largest gypsum caves in the minute in the rock
gypsum caves in the minute in the rock
gypsum caves in the minute in the rock type gypsum in the world it’s between
type gypsum in the world it’s between
type gypsum in the world it’s between ninety and a hundred kilometres of
ninety and a hundred kilometres of
ninety and a hundred kilometres of passage so it’s a very big system and
passage so it’s a very big system and
passage so it’s a very big system and it’s covered by these screaming red
it’s covered by these screaming red
it’s covered by these screaming red towers it looks sort of like stalagmites
towers it looks sort of like stalagmites
towers it looks sort of like stalagmites and the color is indeed as brilliant as
and the color is indeed as brilliant as
and the color is indeed as brilliant as you can see from the knife that’s in the
you can see from the knife that’s in the
you can see from the knife that’s in the picture and when we look at those with
picture and when we look at those with
picture and when we look at those with an electron microscope we see that this
an electron microscope we see that this
an electron microscope we see that this is not just mineral it is composed of
is not just mineral it is composed of
is not just mineral it is composed of these tulip-shaped microorganisms all
these tulip-shaped microorganisms all
these tulip-shaped microorganisms all glued together with iron compounds we
glued together with iron compounds we
glued together with iron compounds we don’t know who those are even something
don’t know who those are even something
don’t know who those are even something like granite and this shows a granite
like granite and this shows a granite
like granite and this shows a granite cave in northern Spain with colleagues
cave in northern Spain with colleagues
cave in northern Spain with colleagues from Spain and Portugal and Brazil just
from Spain and Portugal and Brazil just
from Spain and Portugal and Brazil just looks like an ordinary granite surface
looks like an ordinary granite surface
looks like an ordinary granite surface but actually the granite itself is sort
but actually the granite itself is sort
but actually the granite itself is sort of a yellow color and that gray color
of a yellow color and that gray color
of a yellow color and that gray color that you’re seeing is really composed of
that you’re seeing is really composed of
that you’re seeing is really composed of these little guys so fluffy strings of
these little guys so fluffy strings of
these little guys so fluffy strings of bacteria are making their living on the
bacteria are making their living on the
bacteria are making their living on the inside of this granite cave and they are
inside of this granite cave and they are
inside of this granite cave and they are producing beautiful little silica
producing beautiful little silica
producing beautiful little silica containing speleothems or decorations as
containing speleothems or decorations as
containing speleothems or decorations as they’re called tiny little stool
they’re called tiny little stool
they’re called tiny little stool Heights and stalagmites and they are
Heights and stalagmites and they are
Heights and stalagmites and they are doing that because by their very life
doing that because by their very life
doing that because by their very life processes they’re helping to dissolve
processes they’re helping to dissolve
processes they’re helping to dissolve that granite so individually they’re
that granite so individually they’re
that granite so individually they’re very tiny but in the aggregate they’re
very tiny but in the aggregate they’re
very tiny but in the aggregate they’re incredibly powerful even in ice which is
incredibly powerful even in ice which is
incredibly powerful even in ice which is particularly important when we come to
particularly important when we come to
particularly important when we come to think about icy bodies in our own solar
think about icy bodies in our own solar
think about icy bodies in our own solar system and the potential presence of
system and the potential presence of
system and the potential presence of life in those systems this is Erin
life in those systems this is Erin
life in those systems this is Erin Curtis one of our graduate students at
Curtis one of our graduate students at
Curtis one of our graduate students at New Mexico Tech is doing his
New Mexico Tech is doing his
New Mexico Tech is doing his dissertation work on the ice caves
dissertation work on the ice caves
dissertation work on the ice caves around the volcano Mount Erebus in
around the volcano Mount Erebus in
around the volcano Mount Erebus in Antarctica and not only these are
Antarctica and not only these are
Antarctica and not only these are magnificent caves with beautiful
magnificent caves with beautiful
magnificent caves with beautiful decorations in them just like you would
decorations in them just like you would
decorations in them just like you would find in a limestone cave perhaps but
find in a limestone cave perhaps but
find in a limestone cave perhaps but there are also life forms in those ices
there are also life forms in those ices
there are also life forms in those ices here’s one that looks like a twisted
here’s one that looks like a twisted
here’s one that looks like a twisted candy cane so there is nowhere that is
candy cane so there is nowhere that is
candy cane so there is nowhere that is bug-free no matter what you hear on TV
bug-free no matter what you hear on TV
bug-free no matter what you hear on TV about how you should live a germ-free
about how you should live a germ-free
about how you should live a germ-free life you should not believe that I want
life you should not believe that I want
life you should not believe that I want to give you a glimpse of a mystery that
to give you a glimpse of a mystery that
to give you a glimpse of a mystery that we are pursuing and have been pursuing
we are pursuing and have been pursuing
we are pursuing and have been pursuing for about 15 years and you can see some
for about 15 years and you can see some
for about 15 years and you can see some of the macroscopic evidences of it in
of the macroscopic evidences of it in
of the macroscopic evidences of it in this beautiful little cave decoration
this beautiful little cave decoration
this beautiful little cave decoration here this is a copper mineral called
here this is a copper mineral called
here this is a copper mineral called chrysocolla and it is a beautiful blue
chrysocolla and it is a beautiful blue
chrysocolla and it is a beautiful blue color and when we first saw these we
color and when we first saw these we
color and when we first saw these we were entranced and thought gee they seem
were entranced and thought gee they seem
were entranced and thought gee they seem to be gooey and they were gooey and we
to be gooey and they were gooey and we
to be gooey and they were gooey and we took samples of them and lo and behold
took samples of them and lo and behold
took samples of them and lo and behold they had many microorganisms in them
they had many microorganisms in them
they had many microorganisms in them since this initial effort we found them
since this initial effort we found them
since this initial effort we found them in many different caves around the world
in many different caves around the world
in many different caves around the world and they often contain structures that
and they often contain structures that
and they often contain structures that look like this these look like empty
look like this these look like empty
look like this these look like empty mesh stockings right but we don’t know
mesh stockings right but we don’t know
mesh stockings right but we don’t know what they are we don’t know what kind of
what they are we don’t know what kind of
what they are we don’t know what kind of life form they are they all have the
life form they are they all have the
life form they are they all have the same pattern although there are
same pattern although there are
same pattern although there are variations and now we’ve found them in
variations and now we’ve found them in
variations and now we’ve found them in probably about 50 or 60 different caves
probably about 50 or 60 different caves
probably about 50 or 60 different caves around the world in all different kinds
around the world in all different kinds
around the world in all different kinds of chemistry’s all different kinds of
of chemistry’s all different kinds of
of chemistry’s all different kinds of temperatures all different circumstances
temperatures all different circumstances
temperatures all different circumstances some are shallow some are deep we don’t
some are shallow some are deep we don’t
some are shallow some are deep we don’t know who these are
know who these are
know who these are they’re not fungi they’re not amoebas
they’re not fungi they’re not amoebas
they’re not fungi they’re not amoebas they’re not bacteria we don’t know
they’re not bacteria we don’t know
they’re not bacteria we don’t know so 15 years of pursuing what I think of
so 15 years of pursuing what I think of
so 15 years of pursuing what I think of as the wild Boojum right here on this
as the wild Boojum right here on this
as the wild Boojum right here on this planet even with all of the science that
planet even with all of the science that
planet even with all of the science that we have at our disposal and we still
we have at our disposal and we still
we have at our disposal and we still have aliens right here underneath our
have aliens right here underneath our
have aliens right here underneath our feet I want to end with this spectacular
feet I want to end with this spectacular
feet I want to end with this spectacular image by a wonderful cave photographer
image by a wonderful cave photographer
image by a wonderful cave photographer Carson Peters this is the Nike system in
Carson Peters this is the Nike system in
Carson Peters this is the Nike system in Chihuahua in Mexico National Geographic
Chihuahua in Mexico National Geographic
Chihuahua in Mexico National Geographic has done a wonderful article on that in
has done a wonderful article on that in
has done a wonderful article on that in 2008 there have been two National
2008 there have been two National
2008 there have been two National Geographic television specials that
Geographic television specials that
Geographic television specials that we’ve been privileged to participate in
we’ve been privileged to participate in
we’ve been privileged to participate in and yes those crystals are that big and
and yes those crystals are that big and
and yes those crystals are that big and the reason that we’re in these little
the reason that we’re in these little
the reason that we’re in these little orange suits is not to keep us warm as
orange suits is not to keep us warm as
orange suits is not to keep us warm as you might think but to actually keep us
you might think but to actually keep us
you might think but to actually keep us cool enough to work in there so we are
cool enough to work in there so we are
cool enough to work in there so we are essentially in suits packed and ice in
essentially in suits packed and ice in
essentially in suits packed and ice in order to keep us from dying from the
order to keep us from dying from the
order to keep us from dying from the heat in there the heat ranges from about
heat in there the heat ranges from about
heat in there the heat ranges from about 105 degrees to perhaps well over 140
105 degrees to perhaps well over 140
105 degrees to perhaps well over 140 degrees Fahrenheit and this is just not
degrees Fahrenheit and this is just not
degrees Fahrenheit and this is just not survivable for humans and yet this
survivable for humans and yet this
survivable for humans and yet this entire system has microbes everywhere it
entire system has microbes everywhere it
entire system has microbes everywhere it has them in the walls on that orange
has them in the walls on that orange
has them in the walls on that orange material and particularly interesting to
material and particularly interesting to
material and particularly interesting to us it has them in little tiny fluid
us it has them in little tiny fluid
us it has them in little tiny fluid pockets within the giant crystals and
pockets within the giant crystals and
pockets within the giant crystals and because the crystal growth rate has been
because the crystal growth rate has been
because the crystal growth rate has been measured and also aged dated we know
measured and also aged dated we know
measured and also aged dated we know that the samples that we were able to
that the samples that we were able to
that the samples that we were able to take and some of those crystals are at a
take and some of those crystals are at a
take and some of those crystals are at a time depth of between about 10 and
time depth of between about 10 and
time depth of between about 10 and perhaps about 50,000 years so we have
perhaps about 50,000 years so we have
perhaps about 50,000 years so we have been able to go into the crystals and
been able to go into the crystals and
been able to go into the crystals and use these little pockets as time
use these little pockets as time
use these little pockets as time capsules and not only were we able to
capsules and not only were we able to
capsules and not only were we able to find DNA and organic remains of
find DNA and organic remains of
find DNA and organic remains of microorganisms but we’re able to
microorganisms but we’re able to
microorganisms but we’re able to actually bring a lot of them into
actually bring a lot of them into
actually bring a lot of them into culture alive so we’re very excited
culture alive so we’re very excited
culture alive so we’re very excited about this because this shows that
about this because this shows that
about this because this shows that microorganisms can tolerate significant
microorganisms can tolerate significant
microorganisms can tolerate significant periods of time geologically significant
periods of time geologically significant
periods of time geologically significant periods of time in a state of relative
periods of time in a state of relative
periods of time in a state of relative inactivity and yet still remain viable
inactivity and yet still remain viable
inactivity and yet still remain viable still remain life containing and still
still remain life containing and still
still remain life containing and still able to be brought
able to be brought
able to be brought back to life so to speak once they get
back to life so to speak once they get
back to life so to speak once they get released from these materials so our own
released from these materials so our own
released from these materials so our own mini solar system underneath our feet is
mini solar system underneath our feet is
mini solar system underneath our feet is acting as practice really as we try to
acting as practice really as we try to
acting as practice really as we try to do what my colleagues have suggested and
do what my colleagues have suggested and
do what my colleagues have suggested and that is take our knowledge take our
that is take our knowledge take our
that is take our knowledge take our science take our melding of the
science take our melding of the
science take our melding of the discipline of science with the magic of
discipline of science with the magic of
discipline of science with the magic of exploration and the beauties of what we
exploration and the beauties of what we
exploration and the beauties of what we see and what we experience and combine
see and what we experience and combine
see and what we experience and combine those together in order to advance our
those together in order to advance our
those together in order to advance our knowledge of the universe so we are
knowledge of the universe so we are
knowledge of the universe so we are right on the cusp of this kind of
right on the cusp of this kind of
right on the cusp of this kind of exploration and the work that I and my
exploration and the work that I and my
exploration and the work that I and my colleagues do will hopefully help to
colleagues do will hopefully help to
colleagues do will hopefully help to give us models for how organisms can
give us models for how organisms can
give us models for how organisms can make their living in this amazing array
make their living in this amazing array
make their living in this amazing array of planets that we have in our solar
of planets that we have in our solar
of planets that we have in our solar system and this amazing array of planets
system and this amazing array of planets
system and this amazing array of planets that we apparently have in our galaxy in
that we apparently have in our galaxy in
that we apparently have in our galaxy in our universe thank you
”
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