1 00:00:02,802 --> 00:00:12,011 � dona nobis pacem � 2 00:00:29,896 --> 00:00:33,432 Narrator: our universe seems a barren place, 3 00:00:33,433 --> 00:00:40,239 Full of extreme conditions, hostile to living things. 4 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:45,044 Our own planet has such extreme environments, 5 00:00:45,045 --> 00:00:47,312 Places where, until recently, 6 00:00:47,313 --> 00:00:50,382 We believed nothing could survive. 7 00:00:50,383 --> 00:00:53,819 [ choir vocalizing ] 8 00:00:53,820 --> 00:00:56,088 [ wind whistling ] 9 00:01:09,102 --> 00:01:15,240 Yet life is tenacious if it can just get a foothold. 10 00:01:15,241 --> 00:01:18,377 We call the tiny organisms 11 00:01:18,378 --> 00:01:22,781 Living in such inhospitable places "extremophiles," 12 00:01:22,782 --> 00:01:27,186 Microbes which thrive in the harshest of conditions. 13 00:01:30,290 --> 00:01:35,227 Caves, long dismissed as dark and lifeless deserts, 14 00:01:35,228 --> 00:01:40,132 Turn out to be ideal homes for these hardy life-forms. 15 00:01:40,133 --> 00:01:43,335 Their scientific potential appears vast. 16 00:01:43,336 --> 00:01:49,241 � dona nobis pacem � 17 00:01:49,242 --> 00:01:53,212 This underground frontier holds an irresistible attraction 18 00:01:53,213 --> 00:01:56,215 For two courageous young women. 19 00:01:56,216 --> 00:01:59,151 [ choir vocalizing ] 20 00:02:17,237 --> 00:02:21,907 The arizona desert -- bone-dry and scorching hot. 21 00:02:21,908 --> 00:02:24,777 Perfect for extremophiles. 22 00:03:02,148 --> 00:03:06,418 Nancy aulenbach and hazel barton are part of a small team 23 00:03:06,419 --> 00:03:10,656 Exploring unmapped caves near the grand canyon. 24 00:03:10,657 --> 00:03:15,027 The rest of the team, gordon brown and scott davis, 25 00:03:15,028 --> 00:03:17,329 Search for other caves. 26 00:03:28,742 --> 00:03:32,978 Hazel and nancy are almost certainly 27 00:03:32,979 --> 00:03:36,615 The first cavers to explore this cave. 28 00:03:36,616 --> 00:03:41,653 To get here, they rappelled 300 feet in 112-degree heat. 29 00:03:44,424 --> 00:03:45,758 Ooh! 30 00:03:45,759 --> 00:03:47,493 Listen, I'm gonna throw you this rope. 31 00:03:47,494 --> 00:03:48,894 It'll help pull you in, okay? 32 00:03:48,895 --> 00:03:50,229 You ready? Mm-hmm. 33 00:03:50,230 --> 00:03:51,864 Oh! 34 00:03:51,865 --> 00:03:53,932 Nancy aulenbach, from georgia, 35 00:03:53,933 --> 00:03:56,101 Is the team's technical specialist. 36 00:03:56,102 --> 00:03:58,237 I'm gonna let go of the belay line. 37 00:03:58,238 --> 00:04:00,773 As an instructor in cave-rescue techniques, 38 00:04:00,774 --> 00:04:03,442 Nancy's rope skills are finely honed. 39 00:04:03,443 --> 00:04:04,576 You got it? Yeah. 40 00:04:04,577 --> 00:04:07,112 At 98 1/2 pounds, she is well-suited 41 00:04:07,113 --> 00:04:11,450 For rescuing cavers stuck in very tight places. 42 00:04:17,624 --> 00:04:21,260 Aulenbach: in unexplored caves, we always do surveys. 43 00:04:21,261 --> 00:04:24,363 Later, my husband will use our data 44 00:04:24,364 --> 00:04:27,032 To draw the very first map of this cave. 45 00:04:27,033 --> 00:04:28,701 He's a caver. 46 00:04:28,702 --> 00:04:31,570 In fact, I come from an entire family of cavers. 47 00:04:31,571 --> 00:04:33,772 28.4 feet. 48 00:04:33,773 --> 00:04:36,608 Narrator: hazel barton, a native of England, 49 00:04:36,609 --> 00:04:39,278 Has a phd in microbiology. 50 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,614 Okay, I'm getting positive 60 degrees, right? 51 00:04:42,615 --> 00:04:46,952 Aulenbach: I found crystals, which only form in still water. 52 00:04:46,953 --> 00:04:50,289 This cave probably formed millions of years ago. 53 00:04:50,290 --> 00:04:53,792 Narrator: while nancy studies the cave wall 54 00:04:53,793 --> 00:04:55,627 With a magnifying glass, 55 00:04:55,628 --> 00:04:58,630 Hazel collects samples of tiny organisms 56 00:04:58,631 --> 00:05:01,567 Which could help cure serious diseases. 57 00:05:01,568 --> 00:05:04,470 Barton: you're never sure what speck of dust 58 00:05:04,471 --> 00:05:07,239 Might contain the secret to new medicine 59 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,541 That could save lives. 60 00:05:31,664 --> 00:05:33,399 Aulenbach: often, the most dangerous part 61 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,068 Of exploring caves is just getting to them. 62 00:05:36,069 --> 00:05:39,071 Gordon will vouch for that. 63 00:05:48,882 --> 00:05:51,650 [ choir vocalizing ] 64 00:06:19,446 --> 00:06:24,183 Aulenbach: what turns this river so blue is dissolved limestone. 65 00:06:26,453 --> 00:06:29,288 The limestone is gradually redeposited 66 00:06:29,289 --> 00:06:30,889 To form travertine dams, 67 00:06:30,890 --> 00:06:35,527 Which are first cousin to the stalagmites we see in caves. 68 00:06:40,367 --> 00:06:41,834 Hey. Hey. 69 00:06:41,835 --> 00:06:43,635 How's it going? Great. 70 00:06:43,636 --> 00:06:46,271 You guys get up there? Oh, yeah. 71 00:06:46,272 --> 00:06:48,874 Aulenbach: all this blue water and travertine 72 00:06:48,875 --> 00:06:52,878 Is visible proof that caves are forming upstream right now. 73 00:06:57,751 --> 00:07:01,020 I got time off from my job as a teacher's assistant 74 00:07:01,021 --> 00:07:03,389 Because I promised to e-mail field reports 75 00:07:03,390 --> 00:07:05,758 Back to my second-grade students. 76 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:11,764 Here's how hazel described her research to my second-graders. 77 00:07:11,765 --> 00:07:15,501 Barton: the tiny organisms, called microbes, live in caves, 78 00:07:15,502 --> 00:07:17,336 Might contain special chemicals 79 00:07:17,337 --> 00:07:20,005 That we could make medicine from. 80 00:07:20,006 --> 00:07:22,174 You know, caves are not only a place to visit, 81 00:07:22,175 --> 00:07:25,177 They're a place where you can do a lot of research. 82 00:07:25,178 --> 00:07:28,013 You can survey, you can do biological inventories, 83 00:07:28,014 --> 00:07:31,750 You can find new species that people have never seen before. 84 00:07:31,751 --> 00:07:36,789 Barton: I look for medical use for organisms everywhere, 85 00:07:36,790 --> 00:07:38,891 Even in scum ponds. 86 00:07:38,892 --> 00:07:42,394 After all, a rather useful medicine called penicillin 87 00:07:42,395 --> 00:07:45,831 Was found in the same mold that grows on rotten cheese. 88 00:07:45,832 --> 00:07:47,866 Oh, you know, it's just more boogers, 89 00:07:47,867 --> 00:07:50,135 The smellier the better. 90 00:07:50,136 --> 00:07:55,240 Girl: � I know you're out there somewhere � 91 00:07:55,241 --> 00:07:57,543 Barton: while we were on navajo land, 92 00:07:57,544 --> 00:07:59,745 Nancy and I heard about a medicine man 93 00:07:59,746 --> 00:08:01,814 Making a sand painting. 94 00:08:01,815 --> 00:08:04,683 Through these sand paintings, the navajo believe 95 00:08:04,684 --> 00:08:08,287 That they can tap into the healing powers of the earth. 96 00:08:08,288 --> 00:08:10,289 But, of course, that's what I do, too -- 97 00:08:10,290 --> 00:08:14,193 I go deep into the earth in search of unknown cures. 98 00:08:14,194 --> 00:08:17,596 [ "I know you're out there somewhere" plays ] 99 00:08:17,597 --> 00:08:20,299 [ laughter ] 100 00:08:20,300 --> 00:08:22,468 Aulenbach: we're using kayaks on this expedition 101 00:08:22,469 --> 00:08:24,636 Because the river is a good vantage point 102 00:08:24,637 --> 00:08:28,040 For spotting unexplored caves on the cliff walls. 103 00:08:28,041 --> 00:08:29,942 As my husband, brent, says, 104 00:08:29,943 --> 00:08:32,411 "if you aren't wet, you aren't caving." 105 00:08:32,412 --> 00:08:35,147 � 1, 2, 3! � 106 00:08:35,148 --> 00:08:37,816 [ moody blues' "ride my see-saw" plays ] 107 00:08:40,220 --> 00:08:43,756 � ride, ride my see-saw � 108 00:08:43,757 --> 00:08:45,591 � take this place � 109 00:08:45,592 --> 00:08:49,028 � on this trip, just for me � 110 00:08:50,730 --> 00:08:53,799 � ride, take a free ride � 111 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,567 � take my place � 112 00:08:55,568 --> 00:08:59,204 � have my seat, it's for free � 113 00:09:01,107 --> 00:09:03,375 � I worked like a slave for years � 114 00:09:03,376 --> 00:09:06,679 � sweat so hard just to end my fears � 115 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:09,248 � not to end my life a poor man � 116 00:09:09,249 --> 00:09:14,720 � but by now, I know I should have run � 117 00:09:14,721 --> 00:09:15,954 � whoo-ooh � 118 00:09:20,493 --> 00:09:23,095 [ all cheering ] 119 00:09:32,005 --> 00:09:37,142 � ride my see-saw � 120 00:09:38,778 --> 00:09:41,613 Narrator: some rivers run through caves for miles 121 00:09:41,614 --> 00:09:44,216 Before bursting onto the surface, 122 00:09:44,217 --> 00:09:47,252 But that's of little concern as you approach a precipice, 123 00:09:47,253 --> 00:09:50,222 Wondering, "is this a good idea?" 124 00:09:58,231 --> 00:10:02,334 Unlike canyons, which are carved by fast-moving rivers, 125 00:10:02,335 --> 00:10:06,705 Caves are formed by a subtler but equally effective force. 126 00:10:06,706 --> 00:10:09,808 Most limestone caves start 127 00:10:09,809 --> 00:10:14,179 When groundwater picks up carbon dioxide in the air and soil. 128 00:10:14,180 --> 00:10:18,283 As the mildly acidic water leaks through cracks 129 00:10:18,284 --> 00:10:19,852 In the earth's crust, 130 00:10:19,853 --> 00:10:22,087 It dissolves the surrounding rock, 131 00:10:22,088 --> 00:10:25,257 Leaving pockets, caves. 132 00:10:25,258 --> 00:10:29,028 That's how a chamber 300 feet high 133 00:10:29,029 --> 00:10:33,632 Can be carved from solid stone in less than a million years. 134 00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:36,602 [ choir vocalizing ] 135 00:10:47,247 --> 00:10:48,681 Aulenbach: walls are decorated 136 00:10:48,682 --> 00:10:51,517 When trickling water deposits dissolved stone 137 00:10:51,518 --> 00:10:53,986 To form stalactites, stalagmites, 138 00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:56,822 And other flowstone formations. 139 00:10:56,823 --> 00:11:01,493 Since the purest water on earth is found deep in pristine caves, 140 00:11:01,494 --> 00:11:03,662 Sometimes we use rafts to explore, 141 00:11:03,663 --> 00:11:06,965 Which cause less contamination than swimming. 142 00:11:10,870 --> 00:11:14,273 Cave decorations are as delicate as fine crystal, 143 00:11:14,274 --> 00:11:17,743 Easily shattered and impossible to repair. 144 00:11:17,744 --> 00:11:19,978 That's why good cavers are trained 145 00:11:19,979 --> 00:11:22,548 To move gently underground. 146 00:11:25,852 --> 00:11:28,654 Barton: nancy, I've still got you on belay. 147 00:11:31,891 --> 00:11:34,760 Narrator: when water leaves a residue of minerals, 148 00:11:34,761 --> 00:11:37,696 They crystallize and gradually build up 149 00:11:37,697 --> 00:11:41,467 To become delicate cave formations. 150 00:11:45,705 --> 00:11:49,041 As hazel and her colleagues in the lab have found, 151 00:11:49,042 --> 00:11:51,577 Extremophiles are tough. 152 00:11:51,578 --> 00:11:54,313 Barton: we suspect that 153 00:11:54,314 --> 00:11:56,482 Because of the environment in which they live, 154 00:11:56,483 --> 00:12:00,719 Extremophiles produce potent chemical weapons. 155 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:03,856 If we can isolate these chemical compounds, 156 00:12:03,857 --> 00:12:06,892 We can use them in the fight against disease. 157 00:12:10,296 --> 00:12:13,499 Narrator: only the hardiest extremophiles could survive 158 00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:15,868 Deep in the ice of the north pole. 159 00:12:15,869 --> 00:12:18,904 To collect them, hazel and nancy have joined 160 00:12:18,905 --> 00:12:22,007 An arctic expedition to greenland. 161 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:30,549 Greenland's ice cap is massive. 162 00:12:30,550 --> 00:12:34,853 If melted, it would raise the world's oceans 18 feet. 163 00:12:34,854 --> 00:12:37,022 [ shouting indistinctly ] 164 00:12:37,023 --> 00:12:40,359 Aulenbach: when I first saw camp and saw these little, tiny specks 165 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:43,862 Out in the middle of nowhere, you know, I started thinking, 166 00:12:43,863 --> 00:12:47,966 "we're gonna be here for a while." 167 00:12:47,967 --> 00:12:52,771 Narrator: the expedition is led by frenchman janot lamberton. 168 00:12:52,772 --> 00:12:57,643 Janot has gone deeper into ice caves than anyone else alive. 169 00:13:13,860 --> 00:13:18,230 In summer, melting ice creates raging rivers, 170 00:13:18,231 --> 00:13:23,335 Which plunge into the caves, cutting them deeper and deeper. 171 00:13:23,336 --> 00:13:26,205 Aulenbach: heat from the sun can weaken the ice. 172 00:13:26,206 --> 00:13:30,009 These jumbled blocks were once the roof of a cave, 173 00:13:30,010 --> 00:13:34,847 Just like the one we're about to venture into. 174 00:13:34,848 --> 00:13:36,582 We started early 175 00:13:36,583 --> 00:13:39,918 So we wouldn't be inside when the roof collapsed. 176 00:13:39,919 --> 00:13:42,021 Okay. 177 00:13:44,824 --> 00:13:47,793 [ lamberton shouting indistinctly ] 178 00:13:47,794 --> 00:13:50,195 Okay. 179 00:13:52,799 --> 00:13:55,100 So... 180 00:13:55,101 --> 00:13:58,203 Are we secure, your harness? 181 00:13:58,204 --> 00:13:59,338 Yes. 182 00:13:59,339 --> 00:14:02,274 You use your crampons very well. 183 00:14:28,702 --> 00:14:32,371 Once I dropped into the cave, I focused on how awesome it was 184 00:14:32,372 --> 00:14:35,407 To be one of the first people to ever see that place. 185 00:14:41,715 --> 00:14:45,851 The ice is alive, and you could hear it creak and groan 186 00:14:45,852 --> 00:14:49,388 As it all inches very slowly toward the sea. 187 00:14:53,593 --> 00:14:55,627 Narrator: the ice is a data bank, 188 00:14:55,628 --> 00:14:57,596 Storing centuries of information 189 00:14:57,597 --> 00:15:01,433 For the team's glaciologist, dr. Luc moreau. 190 00:15:01,434 --> 00:15:04,870 The ice is a memory of the climate. 191 00:15:04,871 --> 00:15:08,841 You see different layer -- 192 00:15:08,842 --> 00:15:12,444 And white layer represent the winter, 193 00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:15,314 So we can calculate the age of the ice here. 194 00:15:15,315 --> 00:15:18,050 Narrator: a glacier is truly a time capsule. 195 00:15:18,051 --> 00:15:19,918 The deeper you go, 196 00:15:19,919 --> 00:15:23,555 The more the seasonal layers are compressed. 197 00:15:23,556 --> 00:15:26,558 Only 60 feet down, hazel can collect samples 198 00:15:26,559 --> 00:15:30,095 Which fell as snow centuries ago. 199 00:15:30,096 --> 00:15:34,633 So far, we've found bunches of different bacteria -- 200 00:15:34,634 --> 00:15:38,303 Gram-negatives, gram-positive, cocci, 201 00:15:38,304 --> 00:15:40,939 Spirochetes, all kinds of cool-looking stuff. 202 00:15:40,940 --> 00:15:42,241 The thing is, 203 00:15:42,242 --> 00:15:44,810 There's not much I can do with them here in the field. 204 00:15:44,811 --> 00:15:46,912 The only thing I can do is freeze them down 205 00:15:46,913 --> 00:15:48,313 And take them back with me. 206 00:15:48,314 --> 00:15:50,549 Narrator: the bacteria hazel wants most 207 00:15:50,550 --> 00:15:53,652 Lie buried beneath 500 feet of ice. 208 00:15:53,653 --> 00:15:55,921 The team cannot descend that deep 209 00:15:55,922 --> 00:16:00,159 Until there is a four-day cold snap to stop the flow of water. 210 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,028 They soon get their wish. 211 00:16:03,029 --> 00:16:06,131 Aulenbach: the other day, it was minus 12 centigrade 212 00:16:06,132 --> 00:16:08,400 With a windchill of minus 26 centigrade, 213 00:16:08,401 --> 00:16:10,669 Which is colder than a freezer. 214 00:16:10,670 --> 00:16:12,371 So it was very cold, 215 00:16:12,372 --> 00:16:15,007 Bitterly cold. 216 00:16:15,008 --> 00:16:16,175 Big time. 217 00:16:16,176 --> 00:16:18,777 Too cold to be pleasant. 218 00:16:18,778 --> 00:16:21,880 Aulenbach: waiting for the water to freeze up is the hardest part, 219 00:16:21,881 --> 00:16:24,083 Because we're out in the middle of an ice cap. 220 00:16:24,084 --> 00:16:25,784 There's not a whole lot to do. 221 00:16:25,785 --> 00:16:29,755 This is definitely a caver's haircut. 222 00:16:29,756 --> 00:16:31,990 � we can run � 223 00:16:31,991 --> 00:16:34,426 � we can ride � 224 00:16:34,427 --> 00:16:37,329 � we can fly � 225 00:16:37,330 --> 00:16:39,465 Narrator: to prepare for the deep descent, 226 00:16:39,466 --> 00:16:42,735 �< nancy has to learn to measure the movement of the ice 227 00:16:42,736 --> 00:16:45,104 As the cave walls are slowly pushed in 228 00:16:45,105 --> 00:16:47,940 By the tremendous weight of the glacier. 229 00:16:52,212 --> 00:16:55,714 Janot decided to risk perhaps his deepest descent ever 230 00:16:55,715 --> 00:16:57,716 To get samples for hazel. 231 00:17:06,793 --> 00:17:10,629 Only days ago, this was a deadly waterfall. 232 00:17:14,034 --> 00:17:18,404 The deeper you go, the more unstable the ice becomes. 233 00:17:18,405 --> 00:17:20,239 Janot has seen ice boulders 234 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,841 Burst from the walls like cannon shots. 235 00:17:22,842 --> 00:17:26,445 10-foot spears can break loose without warning, 236 00:17:26,446 --> 00:17:29,348 So he purges the walls of loose ice 237 00:17:29,349 --> 00:17:32,384 To protect the team members who will follow. 238 00:17:32,385 --> 00:17:35,454 [ man chanting indistinctly ] 239 00:17:39,626 --> 00:17:42,995 Sometimes, to set ice screws in the safest spot, 240 00:17:42,996 --> 00:17:46,465 Janot turns himself into a human pendulum. 241 00:18:00,380 --> 00:18:02,514 Assisting janot on the descent, 242 00:18:02,515 --> 00:18:04,917 Luc is concerned about dripping water 243 00:18:04,918 --> 00:18:07,586 Icing up the rope at 200 feet. 244 00:18:20,967 --> 00:18:25,404 Aulenbach: I've rappelled into hundreds of vertical pits around the world, 245 00:18:25,405 --> 00:18:28,107 But never anything like this. 246 00:18:28,108 --> 00:18:31,243 [ ice cracks ] 247 00:18:40,253 --> 00:18:44,590 Ice adds an element of unpredictable risk. 248 00:18:46,426 --> 00:18:49,328 [ men speaking indistinctly ] 249 00:19:15,655 --> 00:19:17,856 Narrator: at just over 500 feet, 250 00:19:17,857 --> 00:19:20,759 Janot grows increasingly concerned 251 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,762 By the instability of the ice. 252 00:19:23,763 --> 00:19:29,034 This is the second-deepest ice cave janot has ever explored. 253 00:19:33,707 --> 00:19:35,507 As hazel rappels, 254 00:19:35,508 --> 00:19:40,179 Janot radios up and warns her not to descend too far. 255 00:19:40,180 --> 00:19:44,049 Instead, he will bring her the deepest sample. 256 00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:49,121 A large block of ice above janot seems ready to break loose. 257 00:19:49,122 --> 00:19:52,658 He wastes no time in collecting the samples for hazel 258 00:19:52,659 --> 00:19:56,228 Before starting the long climb back out. 259 00:20:16,016 --> 00:20:18,717 [ choir vocalizing ] 260 00:20:37,370 --> 00:20:41,507 Perhaps the microbes janot risked his life for 261 00:20:41,508 --> 00:20:44,443 Will one day offer a cure for disease, 262 00:20:44,444 --> 00:20:52,885 But it will take years of research to unlock that secret. 263 00:20:52,886 --> 00:20:57,723 But I found a few weeks was quite my limit. 264 00:20:57,724 --> 00:21:01,260 I knew I'd miss my new french friends, though. 265 00:21:01,261 --> 00:21:03,629 When you go caving with someone, 266 00:21:03,630 --> 00:21:06,565 You trust your life to them, and they to you. 267 00:21:06,566 --> 00:21:08,634 You become friends for life. 268 00:21:24,551 --> 00:21:27,152 Aulenbach: the hills near my home in georgia 269 00:21:27,153 --> 00:21:31,390 Are ideal terrain for the formation of caves. 270 00:21:31,391 --> 00:21:35,828 Just as extremophiles thrive in the ice cap of greenland, 271 00:21:35,829 --> 00:21:39,465 Bats are well-adapted to classic limestone caves. 272 00:21:39,466 --> 00:21:42,301 These flying mammals sleep all day 273 00:21:42,302 --> 00:21:44,770 And come out at sunset to feed. 274 00:21:44,771 --> 00:21:48,007 40% of all bat species are endangered, 275 00:21:48,008 --> 00:21:49,608 But not this colony. 276 00:21:49,609 --> 00:21:51,110 The 20 million bats here 277 00:21:51,111 --> 00:21:54,513 Eat half a million pounds of insects every night. 278 00:22:01,354 --> 00:22:03,355 Narrator: thanks to special training, 279 00:22:03,356 --> 00:22:05,190 Nancy can introduce her class 280 00:22:05,191 --> 00:22:09,294 To this underappreciated creature on a field trip. 281 00:22:09,295 --> 00:22:11,096 Aulenbach: do you have any questions? 282 00:22:11,097 --> 00:22:12,631 Girl: what do bats eat? 283 00:22:12,632 --> 00:22:16,101 Well, this kind of bat eats scorpions. 284 00:22:16,102 --> 00:22:17,369 Can you believe that? 285 00:22:17,370 --> 00:22:20,105 I wouldn't want to eat a scorpion. Would you? 286 00:22:20,106 --> 00:22:22,041 No. No. No. No. 287 00:22:22,042 --> 00:22:24,376 And bats eat a lot of insects, too. 288 00:22:24,377 --> 00:22:27,946 They get rid of those nasty mosquitos that bite your legs, 289 00:22:27,947 --> 00:22:29,548 Make you itch. 290 00:22:29,549 --> 00:22:33,552 Like bats, serious cavers will go a long way 291 00:22:33,553 --> 00:22:37,489 To find a good cave, so when hazel invited me 292 00:22:37,490 --> 00:22:40,025 On another far-flung search for extremophiles, 293 00:22:40,026 --> 00:22:44,396 I was raring to go. 294 00:22:44,397 --> 00:22:46,231 Narrator: southern mexico -- 295 00:22:46,232 --> 00:22:51,070 The yucatan peninsula juts defiantly into the gulf. 296 00:22:51,071 --> 00:22:53,839 [ man singing indistinctly ] 297 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:56,675 These ancient mayan temples 298 00:22:56,676 --> 00:23:00,145 Were built on one huge limestone plateau. 299 00:23:00,146 --> 00:23:05,584 The plateau holds hundreds of miles of cave passage, 300 00:23:05,585 --> 00:23:09,088 The longest underwater cave system in the world. 301 00:23:14,361 --> 00:23:18,931 The caves are entered through "cenotes," natural wells. 302 00:23:18,932 --> 00:23:23,002 How did it go? Did y'all find anything? 303 00:23:26,873 --> 00:23:30,109 Hey, kids, I'm still down here in mexico with hazel, 304 00:23:30,110 --> 00:23:33,178 And we're looking for something called a halocline. 305 00:23:33,179 --> 00:23:37,049 A halocline is where the fresh water from a stream like this 306 00:23:37,050 --> 00:23:38,917 Meets the salt water in the ocean, 307 00:23:38,918 --> 00:23:42,454 And it forms this really blurry layer. 308 00:23:42,455 --> 00:23:45,357 You see this blurry layer? 309 00:23:45,358 --> 00:23:48,193 Hazel thinks that there are some special bugs 310 00:23:48,194 --> 00:23:51,030 That live in this halocline, so that's why we're looking for it. 311 00:23:51,031 --> 00:23:53,298 Well, that's about it for right now, 312 00:23:53,299 --> 00:23:55,968 And I love y'all, and give yourselves a big hug for me. 313 00:23:55,969 --> 00:23:57,036 Bye. 314 00:23:57,037 --> 00:23:58,470 Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. 315 00:23:58,471 --> 00:24:01,840 Barton: to find an uncontaminated halocline, 316 00:24:01,841 --> 00:24:04,410 Our guide, jorge gonzalez, 317 00:24:04,411 --> 00:24:08,981 Led us to a remote cave deep in the jungle. 318 00:24:08,982 --> 00:24:13,118 [ laughing ] 319 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:16,855 Narrator: if the fresh water in this cave 320 00:24:16,856 --> 00:24:18,857 Flows all the way to the sea, 321 00:24:18,858 --> 00:24:21,427 It must pass through a halocline. 322 00:24:21,428 --> 00:24:26,065 To find out, nancy and hazel use fluorescein dye, 323 00:24:26,066 --> 00:24:28,467 Which does not harm the environment. 324 00:24:28,468 --> 00:24:31,570 Aulenbach: if this green dye comes out where we expect, 325 00:24:31,571 --> 00:24:33,272 At a coastal lagoon, 326 00:24:33,273 --> 00:24:36,875 Then we'll know this cave is connected directly to the sea. 327 00:24:39,913 --> 00:24:44,283 Hazel retrieved the water collector she placed 328 00:24:44,284 --> 00:24:48,954 At the mouth of the underground stream the day before. 329 00:24:48,955 --> 00:24:51,690 The slightest trace of fluorescein will show up 330 00:24:51,691 --> 00:24:54,193 Under my black light. 331 00:24:55,595 --> 00:24:58,097 Barton: how's it look, nance? 332 00:24:58,098 --> 00:24:59,465 I'm seeing green! 333 00:24:59,466 --> 00:25:01,800 Barton: since the green dye went through to the ocean, 334 00:25:01,801 --> 00:25:04,269 We went back to the cave the next day. 335 00:25:04,270 --> 00:25:07,473 Whoo! 336 00:25:07,474 --> 00:25:09,708 [ laughter ] 337 00:25:09,709 --> 00:25:12,311 Hey, be careful, and have fun. 338 00:25:12,312 --> 00:25:15,214 Aulenbach: I respect hazel's decision to take up cave diving, 339 00:25:15,215 --> 00:25:18,550 But I promised my family I'd never do it. 340 00:25:18,551 --> 00:25:21,286 Narrator: cave diving has been called 341 00:25:21,287 --> 00:25:24,490 The most dangerous adventure in the world. 342 00:25:24,491 --> 00:25:29,962 Survival takes training, caution, and luck. 343 00:25:29,963 --> 00:25:32,531 [ moody blues' "water" plays ] 344 00:25:40,140 --> 00:25:42,241 Barton: we're laying a dive line. 345 00:25:42,242 --> 00:25:44,410 It's a bit like leaving a trail of bread crumbs 346 00:25:44,411 --> 00:25:46,912 To find your way back home. 347 00:25:46,913 --> 00:25:52,918 � aaaaaaah, aaaah � 348 00:25:52,919 --> 00:25:58,190 � aaaaaaah, aaaah � 349 00:26:00,593 --> 00:26:03,696 Narrator: jorge affixes arrows to the line 350 00:26:03,697 --> 00:26:07,066 To guide the divers back to the exit. 351 00:26:09,936 --> 00:26:13,739 � aaaaaaah � 352 00:26:13,740 --> 00:26:15,908 Barton: there are rules that we never break. 353 00:26:15,909 --> 00:26:18,844 We always turn around and head for the exit 354 00:26:18,845 --> 00:26:20,913 When we've used up 1/3 of our air 355 00:26:20,914 --> 00:26:22,414 So we have extra air 356 00:26:22,415 --> 00:26:25,117 In case we run into problems on the way out. 357 00:26:35,628 --> 00:26:39,631 Life in total darkness has made this species of fish blind. 358 00:26:39,632 --> 00:26:43,902 To compensate, its other senses have become more acute. 359 00:26:45,805 --> 00:26:48,874 When debris rains down from the ceiling, 360 00:26:48,875 --> 00:26:53,145 You know that no one's even been this way before. 361 00:26:59,052 --> 00:27:03,655 � aaaaaaah, aaaah � 362 00:27:03,656 --> 00:27:06,658 If the silt gets kicked up in a huge cloud 363 00:27:06,659 --> 00:27:08,827 And you lose sight of the dive line, 364 00:27:08,828 --> 00:27:12,498 You may never find it again, and you could run out of air 365 00:27:12,499 --> 00:27:15,601 Before you ever find your way out of the cave. 366 00:27:15,602 --> 00:27:20,472 � aaaaaaaaaah � 367 00:27:29,182 --> 00:27:31,316 When we reached a breakdown pile, 368 00:27:31,317 --> 00:27:34,353 I wasn't sure if I could get through the small passage, 369 00:27:34,354 --> 00:27:36,488 But the volume of water flowing through 370 00:27:36,489 --> 00:27:39,692 Suggested that there was more cave on the other side, 371 00:27:39,693 --> 00:27:41,994 So I had to find out. 372 00:27:47,467 --> 00:27:50,502 Open-ocean divers wear scuba tanks on their backs, 373 00:27:50,503 --> 00:27:52,671 But cave divers go side-mount 374 00:27:52,672 --> 00:27:56,041 So we can squeeze through narrow passages. 375 00:28:01,214 --> 00:28:04,483 In a really tight spot, you can remove your tanks, 376 00:28:04,484 --> 00:28:08,187 Push them ahead, and then follow them through the hole. 377 00:28:30,577 --> 00:28:34,913 We were approaching our turnaround, 378 00:28:34,914 --> 00:28:37,850 And I will not break that rule no matter what. 379 00:28:41,755 --> 00:28:44,423 Just when the cave seemed to be reaching the right depth 380 00:28:44,424 --> 00:28:47,426 For a halocline, we hit a dead end. 381 00:28:52,699 --> 00:28:55,768 In the few moments it took for us to hunt for an opening, 382 00:28:55,769 --> 00:28:58,604 We kicked up a huge cloud of silt. 383 00:29:29,703 --> 00:29:31,637 Narrator: as soon as hazel and jorge 384 00:29:31,638 --> 00:29:34,106 Worked their way out of the silt cloud, 385 00:29:34,107 --> 00:29:36,308 They headed for the exit. 386 00:29:42,315 --> 00:29:46,452 Barton: just because fluorescein dye makes it through a passage, 387 00:29:46,453 --> 00:29:48,487 That doesn't mean that we can. 388 00:29:48,488 --> 00:29:52,224 You don't look too happy. What happened? 389 00:29:52,225 --> 00:29:55,828 I wasn't in much of a talking mood, but my mind was made up. 390 00:29:55,829 --> 00:29:58,497 We'd try a different cave. 391 00:30:02,469 --> 00:30:06,505 Narratorof new medicines, due to its biological diversity. 392 00:30:06,506 --> 00:30:08,574 The great variety of cave life 393 00:30:08,575 --> 00:30:12,244 Is starting to prove just as productive. 394 00:30:12,245 --> 00:30:14,913 You're wet. Get away from it. 395 00:30:14,914 --> 00:30:18,017 Barton: I wanted more biological diversity, 396 00:30:18,018 --> 00:30:19,685 But the arrival of the rainy season 397 00:30:19,686 --> 00:30:21,754 Meant that time was running out. 398 00:30:21,755 --> 00:30:24,990 We needed to find the halocline fast. 399 00:30:24,991 --> 00:30:28,761 [ "I know you're out there somewhere" plays ] 400 00:30:31,698 --> 00:30:33,699 Aulenbach: we saw a chain of cenotes, 401 00:30:33,700 --> 00:30:37,469 Perhaps connected by an underground river. 402 00:30:37,470 --> 00:30:41,173 I got gps coordinates on the biggest cenote in the chain, 403 00:30:41,174 --> 00:30:43,676 A good starting point for the next dive. 404 00:30:51,484 --> 00:30:54,853 [ dramatic music plays ] 405 00:31:11,971 --> 00:31:14,073 Barton: we decided to use scooters 406 00:31:14,074 --> 00:31:17,209 To give us more range in our hunt for the halocline. 407 00:31:17,210 --> 00:31:22,247 Girl: � I know you're out there somewhere � 408 00:31:22,248 --> 00:31:24,750 Barton: as the sunlight disappeared behind us, 409 00:31:24,751 --> 00:31:27,953 I felt what all scientists feel in their gut -- 410 00:31:27,954 --> 00:31:31,990 "here I go again, into the black void." 411 00:31:41,401 --> 00:31:44,136 [ man chanting indistinctly ] 412 00:31:56,483 --> 00:31:58,283 There was already a dive line 413 00:31:58,284 --> 00:32:02,021 For us to follow toward the ocean. 414 00:32:02,022 --> 00:32:06,458 Someone had been here before us, but when? 415 00:32:06,459 --> 00:32:10,596 It was spooky when the dive line ran out. 416 00:32:10,597 --> 00:32:14,366 This must be where our mystery trailblazer turned back. 417 00:32:17,203 --> 00:32:18,737 Aulenbach: we made an educated guess 418 00:32:18,738 --> 00:32:21,040 As to where the underground river comes out. 419 00:32:21,041 --> 00:32:23,876 That's where I'm headed with my gps. 420 00:32:43,596 --> 00:32:47,232 Barton: still no halocline, but the cave was getting deeper, 421 00:32:47,233 --> 00:32:48,600 So I had a good feeling 422 00:32:48,601 --> 00:32:51,870 About our chances as we continued downstream. 423 00:33:14,027 --> 00:33:16,762 The elusive halocline. 424 00:33:16,763 --> 00:33:20,099 When we got our glimpse of it downstream, 425 00:33:20,100 --> 00:33:21,533 We anchored our scooters 426 00:33:21,534 --> 00:33:25,037 To keep the propellers from disturbing the halocline. 427 00:33:35,915 --> 00:33:39,685 I knew from the blurry layer that this was definitely it, 428 00:33:39,686 --> 00:33:43,455 A well-defined and uncontaminated halocline. 429 00:33:43,456 --> 00:33:45,591 Anything living in this boundary 430 00:33:45,592 --> 00:33:48,961 Between the salt and fresh waters is, by definition, 431 00:33:48,962 --> 00:33:53,065 An extremophile with a unique system for survival. 432 00:34:17,190 --> 00:34:18,891 I made sure to collect 433 00:34:18,892 --> 00:34:21,126 From different levels of the halocline 434 00:34:21,127 --> 00:34:24,396 To increase the variety of the samples. 435 00:34:34,307 --> 00:34:40,546 � ooooh, ahhh � 436 00:34:40,547 --> 00:34:47,553 � ooooh, ahhh � 437 00:34:51,391 --> 00:34:54,593 My samples from the halocline are very precious. 438 00:34:54,594 --> 00:34:57,563 Who knows what cures may be waiting 439 00:34:57,564 --> 00:35:00,065 In the samples I collected today. 440 00:35:00,066 --> 00:35:04,069 Unfortunately, I'll have to wait a long time to find out, 441 00:35:04,070 --> 00:35:06,338 Because it can take years to approve 442 00:35:06,339 --> 00:35:09,942 And test a safe, new drug. 443 00:35:09,943 --> 00:35:15,547 For the moment, all I know is that I'm very, very happy. 444 00:35:15,548 --> 00:35:18,417 Whoo! I got it! 445 00:35:18,418 --> 00:35:19,518 You got it! 446 00:35:19,519 --> 00:35:20,686 I got it! 447 00:35:20,687 --> 00:35:23,956 It may seem I'm this free-spirited scientist, 448 00:35:23,957 --> 00:35:26,492 But I'm really part of a research team. 449 00:35:26,493 --> 00:35:28,761 My colleagues count on me 450 00:35:28,762 --> 00:35:31,563 To bring back unique microscopic life. 451 00:35:34,668 --> 00:35:37,236 Often, I don't find what we were looking for, 452 00:35:37,237 --> 00:35:39,538 But I find something else totally unexpected 453 00:35:39,539 --> 00:35:41,740 And just as useful. 454 00:35:44,277 --> 00:35:47,680 [ choir vocalizing ] 455 00:36:05,198 --> 00:36:07,733 Life is full of surprises. 456 00:36:07,734 --> 00:36:10,536 A powerful microscope can reveal 457 00:36:10,537 --> 00:36:13,305 A whole universe in a drop of water. 458 00:36:18,611 --> 00:36:20,279 In just six short years, 459 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:22,348 The search for extremophiles has produced 460 00:36:22,349 --> 00:36:24,917 A potential new treatment for leukemia 461 00:36:24,918 --> 00:36:28,620 And added 12 new kingdoms to the tree of life. 462 00:36:28,621 --> 00:36:30,989 Each kingdom is distinct from the others 463 00:36:30,990 --> 00:36:33,892 As, say, a cabbage is from a dolphin. 464 00:36:37,731 --> 00:36:41,166 Narrator: just when we think we've seen every inch of our planet, 465 00:36:41,167 --> 00:36:44,236 We find somewhere else we haven't looked, 466 00:36:44,237 --> 00:36:47,973 Remote, mysterious places of extreme potential, 467 00:36:47,974 --> 00:36:51,310 Places where the horizon turns inward 468 00:36:51,311 --> 00:36:55,881 And waits for cavers to expand it for us all. 469 00:36:55,882 --> 00:36:57,950 [ choir vocalizing ] 470 00:37:36,456 --> 00:37:40,993 Aulenbach: I am gonna be caving until my body completely falls apart. 471 00:37:40,994 --> 00:37:43,562 I'm going to do everything possible 472 00:37:43,563 --> 00:37:46,465 That I can contribute to the world of caving, 473 00:37:46,466 --> 00:37:49,268 In my wheelchair if I have to. 474 00:37:49,269 --> 00:37:53,038 I'm always gonna be caving in my heart, always. 475 00:37:53,039 --> 00:37:55,741 � we can run � 476 00:37:55,742 --> 00:37:58,344 � we can ride � 477 00:37:58,345 --> 00:38:01,013 � we can fly � 478 00:38:06,486 --> 00:38:08,787 � treasure every moment � 479 00:38:08,788 --> 00:38:11,223 � never be apart � 480 00:38:11,224 --> 00:38:13,792 � follow every footstep � 481 00:38:13,793 --> 00:38:15,994 � take me to your heart � 482 00:38:15,995 --> 00:38:19,999 � I want to feel the freedom � 483 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:23,002 � in our lives � 484 00:38:25,472 --> 00:38:28,207 � we can run � 485 00:38:28,208 --> 00:38:30,709 � we can ride � 486 00:38:30,710 --> 00:38:33,445 � we can fly � 487 00:38:33,446 --> 00:38:35,481 � no matter what they say � 488 00:38:35,482 --> 00:38:38,183 � we can love � 489 00:38:38,184 --> 00:38:40,686 � we can live � 490 00:38:40,687 --> 00:38:44,189 � we can fly �