Why Is NASA Interested In This Upside Down Cave?

Рет қаралды 245,805

2 ай бұрын

Below the Chihuahuan Desert in southeastern New Mexico, lies an extensive system of limestone caves, among them the pristine Lechuguilla Cave and the famed Carlsbad Cavern, home to one of North America's largest underground chambers. But there’s more to this subterranean world than gigantic geological formations. It's also ground zero for a microbial war that’s been raging for thousands of years, right beneath our feet.
Untold Earth explores the seeming impossibilities behind our planet’s strangest, most unique natural wonders. From fragile, untouched ecosystems to familiar but unexplained occurrences in our own backyard, this series chases insight into natural phenomena through the voices that know them best.
Untold Earth is produced in partnership with Atlas Obscura and Nature.
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Пікірлер: 267

@nathanbemo1063 Ай бұрын

"What doesn't kill you mutates and tries again"🧐🤔🤣🤩

@pollytiks3885 Ай бұрын

Amazon and Etsy both have these tee shirts!

@UsenameTakenWasTaken Ай бұрын

@@pollytiks3885 So what you're saying is that they've changed in response to their environment to have a better chance of taking your resources? Weird, that feels topical for some reason.

@pollytiks3885 Ай бұрын

@@UsenameTakenWasTaken 🤣

@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307 Ай бұрын

@@UsenameTakenWasTaken Her jumper is false and ignorant!

@SheSweetLikSugarNSavage Ай бұрын

😂😂🤣🤣

@DrachenGothik666 Ай бұрын

Can we just give a shoutout to her shirt: "What doesn't kill you mutates and tries again"? That's just an awesome sense of humour!

@OGRE_HATES_NERDS 10 күн бұрын

shoutout to that lady's shirt

@allisonshaw9341 Ай бұрын

Science, archeology, and history are so cool. How anyone can think they're boring is beyond me.

@LightBlueVans Ай бұрын

exactly! i think the same way and about conspiracies too. how can you believe such fanciful things when REAL LIFE is so magical!!!

@Tripleat117 Ай бұрын

I imagine trying to get to these places in the first place is the boring part.

@JKTCGMV13 Ай бұрын

So much of it is just about your teacher in high school

@allisonshaw9341 Ай бұрын

@@JKTCGMV13 Actually, my family have always been interested in all of it, and we were encouraged to learn everything we could. Plus, we have a lot of caves in our area and as kids, my cousins and I explored every one we could. Our older cousins and some of our adult relatives loved exploring cages as well.

@XOguitargurlOX Ай бұрын

it's normally because of the environment. Some people are afraid to enjoy the sciences because they put a lot of focus in social status and are afraid of being seen as a nerd. Some have had bad experiences with science as in a snooty professor or peer who was condescending when they didn't know a fact correctly. I haven't met one person who isn't into science, just some people who aren't aware their passion contains science. Same with math...that stuff is EVERYWHERE!!

@Suriyavanna Ай бұрын

3:15 HER SHIRT!! hahaha I need one

@pollytiks3885 Ай бұрын

Thinking the same thing!! I got one from Etsy, but Amazon has them too.

@zainazyar4505 Ай бұрын

OMG I was saying the exact same thing!

@jamesjaudon8247 Ай бұрын

I had to go back and see.👍

@RoxaneJ14 Ай бұрын

This Diana Northup lady has THE BEST VIBE 🥰

@seanstewart8942 Ай бұрын

😊 I was just thinking this grandma is cool and smart 😎 👌

@taxesdeathandtrouble.1886 Ай бұрын

@seanstewart8942 Smart is cool.

@literaterose6731 Ай бұрын

Carlsbad Caverns! I thought that’s what I was seeing in the thumbnail. We went there a bunch of times when I was a kid in the 60s and 70s during visits to my grandparents in El Paso TX. I found them endlessly fascinating and beautiful. This was wonderful to watch, really brought me back to the sense of awe I had touring those amazing spaces. Thank you!

@Dhi_Bee Ай бұрын

2:53 This lady seemed cool but it’s confirmed she’s awesome as soon as I saw her shirt😂❤

@RoxaneJ14 Ай бұрын

I knooooowww! I fell in love with her, I want her to tell me stories about science every day forever!

@Dhi_Bee Ай бұрын

@@RoxaneJ14 yeah, if she needs a grandson, I volunteer lol

@retronation9744 Ай бұрын

She was my boss in college at my research job and she is exactly like this 😂 like she still goes caving at like 80 years old

@Kirhean Ай бұрын

@@retronation9744 I'd love to listen to her talk with John Michael Godier, just talking about the cave and how it contributes to our understanding of life off Earth.

@huldu Ай бұрын

It really makes you wonder if all planets and moons in our solar system are truly devoid of all life or if there are caverns like this far below the surface(or under ice sheets). Where bacteria and simple organisms have been going at it for millions if not billions of years.

@jandrews6254 Ай бұрын

Given that earth life exists inside active volcanos and in the deepest parts of the ocean where there is incredible pressure, absolutely no light, no oxygen, just black smokers, I’d say the planets and moons mostly have life just not 9’ tall blue humanoids with boobs. We need to see past our own egos and recognise alien life when we do eventually find it.

@mrexists5400 Ай бұрын

Scientists aren't filmmakers trying to connect an audience to characters in a story, so probably not a big an issue as you think

@jamesjaudon8247 Ай бұрын

We'll see. I believe the type of life that exists here is special. Anything found out there will be equally special. But until we go there it's all just vivid imagination.

@ellielynn8219 Ай бұрын

@@jandrews6254well said.

@Uncanny_Mountain Ай бұрын

When you learn the precambrian explosion wasn't the start, but an end of an even longer proto life period of viruses, bacteria, and "stuff"

@dasstigma Ай бұрын

2:52 Best sweater ever.

@Grynslvr2 Ай бұрын

My family toured the caverns when I was about hand high to my dad. I say it that way because, I got too close during the tour and he turned suddenly, accidentally striking me in the mouth. I lost a "baby" tooth in Carlsbad Caverns and as far as I know, that small part of me is now a very small part of the cavern system. Even with loosing a tooth, that visit to the caverns awed me at the time, and have ever since. I'm 67 and still remember the beauty of Carlsbad.

@KatieKatTG Ай бұрын

I finally visited recently, and it truly is breathtaking. It's kind of like seeing the Grand Canyon in person. You can look at a million gorgeous pictures of the place, but it doesn't do justice compared to seeing it in real life. I would easily recommend this for a bucket list visit, at the very least. Just a few tips, when visiting. Wear comfortable but supportive shoes and get ready for a serious calf workout. The trail down there is miles long and almost none of it will be level. If you have breathing conditions such as asthma, please be aware that there will be pockets where it isn't as easy to breathe. I definitely regretted not bringing my inhaler with me. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. Keep it beautiful for future generations to enjoy. Be safe and have fun!

@RobinTheBot Ай бұрын

Isn't there a stumpy little stalagmite in the middle of a path you can touch? It's black with all the oil from people touching it iirc

@KatieKatTG Ай бұрын

@RobinTheBot The ranger told us to avoid touching anything aside from the handrails. This was back in February 2024. I did see that column and I'm sure people still touch it but I don't know that they are allowed to anymore. The rangers seemed pretty serious about it, talking about preserving the biological climate down there.

@allisonjones-lo6795 Ай бұрын

I live in northern New Mexico and I have been to Carlsbad Caverns many times since I was a teenager. I will be taking my grandchildren next year. The Caverns always amaze me!

@janetross1900 Ай бұрын

I was there with my family as a child on vacation. I’m so glad that my father took us to places like this. It was so cool.❤

@ryans4877 Ай бұрын

I was just at Carlsbad a couple of weeks ago, awesome timing

@MemphiStig Ай бұрын

I didn't know caves could do this. Very cool.

@rebz8805 Ай бұрын

I want her sweatshirt! (What doesn't kill you mutates and tries again) Brilliant!

@ezrahopkins1913 Ай бұрын

At least she not trying to promote evolve,but mutate,it's at least makes this digestible

@Lovelife86nj Ай бұрын

Thumbnail upside down 🙃 nice

@robertmitchell5646 Ай бұрын

Carlsbad Cavern is awe inspiring. It put me in perspective to nature! Beautiful beyond my words.

@toughenupfluffy7294 Ай бұрын

750 feet below the surface, the Big Room is the largest cave chamber by volume in North America.

@Centerpieceofmind 8 күн бұрын

Everyone should experience Carlsbad Caverns. Truly amazing place. It's so big, the videos don't do it justice.

@chippysteve4524 Ай бұрын

Hahaha-I love her jumper @ 3:18!

@chefscorner7063 Ай бұрын

My dad and I visited Carlsbad Caverns back in 1976. I couldn't believe how big and open it was. It was still relatively new in that they were still making discoveries in areas that hadn't been researched or even found yet. While I had a hard childhood I was lucky in that the rare good times I did have were of incredible people, places and things. Good thing I always try to find the silverlining. ;)

@mascadadelpantion8018 Ай бұрын

Science is the coolest confusing thing in the world

@ickmonster73 Ай бұрын

Science is the study of the confusing things in the world

@Uncanny_Mountain Ай бұрын

Wait til you find out about the Zodiac Calendar and the Phoenix Cypher of 216

@2headedcow5252 Ай бұрын

I love learning when there is no test 🥹

@moosebrandon8665 Ай бұрын

Lol right

@elainekay8325 Ай бұрын

Absolutely

@chrystal884 Күн бұрын

I’ve been to Carlsbad Caverns so many times in my life but I enjoy it every time.

@regolith1350 Күн бұрын

3:14 "What doesn't kill you mutates and tries again." 🤣🤣🤣

@macsnafu Ай бұрын

3:14 What doesn't kill you mutates and tries again!

@Lichlord Ай бұрын

Diana Northup is one of the best science communicators I’ve ever heard. Can we hear from her more often?

@lts_Bubba Ай бұрын

Youngn mustache killn it

@howardX81 Ай бұрын

You have to see it in person. It will blow your mind!

@ronkirk5099 Ай бұрын

I really like visiting caves, but a wild cave tour of Jewel cave in S. Dakota where there is a very restrictive bottle neck you have to crawl through was just about too much for me. Dark and tight at the same time was pretty scary.

@user-iy9cy4tl2h Ай бұрын

Wow I haven't seen a short doc this good in quite some time 👍👍👍💛

@Jianju69 Ай бұрын

So much thought-provoking material in just five minutes!

@psychosis7325 Ай бұрын

Diana N's Jumper/sweater is bloody awesome 🤣👌

@megansfo Ай бұрын

I would love to see this someday! Also, it's great to see a fellow boomer featured here. She's great! 🌺

@TeagueChrystie Ай бұрын

She seems cool as hell.

@evilginger013o_o Ай бұрын

Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints, Kill nothing but time.

@MossyMozart Ай бұрын

Dr Diana Northrup is completely adorable, especially with that sweatshirt. I knew Carlsbad Caverns was big and the home of so many bats, but I never knew how beautiful it is.

@Melody-mt5im Ай бұрын

5:28 RIGHT as the narrator says “undisturbed” while talking about the importance of not introducing anything to a newly discovered environment, a BARE HAND reaches out and touches the cave formation. 😭 (Edited to adjust timestamp)

@lexloose2112 Ай бұрын

so beautiful, I'd love to visit its timeless beauty, the same as the crystal caves in Peru. Another stunning show of nature's magnificent glory.

@user-kt5cp7lv5e 5 күн бұрын

I watch this KZfaq video and all I got was this T-shirt. I love it!

@Mr2Reviews Ай бұрын

I hear potential for new antibiotics.

@ARCavingandOutdoors Ай бұрын

What a gorgeous cave

@graemebrumfitt6668 Ай бұрын

Cool cave! TFS, GB :)

@Moeistic Ай бұрын

These people are the real heroes of humanity. Civilization is possible because of their work and sacrifice. Yet the rest of us spend our lives worshiping celebrities and politicians and making them rich.

@vladdevener5586 Ай бұрын

Absolutely incredible🤍🤎.

@clemguitarechal Ай бұрын

I wish this video was 2 hours long ! This subject, and all its collaterals, are fascinating

@AdventuringwithTrevor Ай бұрын

Just was here on April 7th on my way to Texas for that eclipse, was an insane experience. Highly recommend it

@tinknal6449 Ай бұрын

Man will never set foot on mars.

@mikejettusa Ай бұрын

Extremely interesting. I really hope they actually think about protecting the environment of places we go beyond our planet because we certainly have not done this here 😢

@marklivingstone3710 Ай бұрын

Check out the Caves on Kauai in Hawaii where the trees grow downwards from the upper surfaces.

@HouseboundPerspectives Ай бұрын

kartchner caverns has a pretty interesting history, very VERY similar stories

@astrinymris9953 Ай бұрын

2:52 I want that sweatshirt! It's great! 🤣🤣🤣

@garybeasley4885 Ай бұрын

I’ve seen both caves in person. Theres no comparison to hydrologically formed caves, a wild beauty all their own. The gypsum formations are mind bending to say the least!

@MariaMartinez-researcher Ай бұрын

"(gentle inquisitive music)" 😘

@teehasheestower Ай бұрын

Obviously its in Australia, like all the other upside down caves.

@MrExel47 Ай бұрын

"Uh there is a giant cave with trillions of bat in it. Let´s install lights everywhere!"

@wilhelmmeyer89 9 күн бұрын

Nice. Usually you don't hear this at school.

@kt6332 Ай бұрын

Everything has life. Most people can’t recognize it because they were taught differently in schools. Meaning, taught to think the way they want you to think instead of you thinking for yourself!

@yukit119 12 күн бұрын

3:17 Love her tshirt

@marka0014 Ай бұрын

In Pennsylvania I have been to both Lost River Caverns and Crystal Caves, both were awesome.

@exploringdixie Ай бұрын

I started caving 2 years ago and it feels like you're on another planet!

@Cudddlefish Ай бұрын

1:22 And it was as that moment that he became the Batman.

@sleverlight Ай бұрын

lmao love her shirt "What doesnt kill you mutates and trys again"

@MartinBrabi Ай бұрын

In the halls of the mountain king 😉

@steveheuser7382 Ай бұрын

It shows the pole flip Costou found one with 112 reversals , try and find that episode some time. You can’t

@orcinusvox5107 Ай бұрын

0:37 for a sec thought u said a microbial worm was raging for thousands of years

@kingX777 Күн бұрын

Be careful, The Falmer can be tough…

@li_celly 20 күн бұрын

I remember touring the Carlsbad cavern and we were supposed to be quiet to prevent waking up the bats. some teen behind me whistled Rue's and Katniss's tune and I whistled back. I think everyone giggled like the book nerd we were.

@Norfolk250 Ай бұрын

That face!!! 0:05

@russ549 Ай бұрын

The natural world is actually cooler than anything we've made

@Yezpahr Ай бұрын

I truly believe one of these days we'll find a second genesis of life in caves just like these. It would be so wild.

@MaryAnnNytowl 9 күн бұрын

Here I was thinking, from the thumbnail, there was some cave somewhere that had been turned on its head due to odd geological processes. Still, not disappointed. That shirt, though... it couldn't be truer, in many situations, LOL! I mean, many microbes would rather you live, to spread more of them, but others just want a nice big meal. 😂 Now I need to find a copy of the shirt, LOL!

@fajarsuryantoro7025 Ай бұрын

I want that professor sweater 😮😮😮

@Kurtlane Ай бұрын

Are the bats still there at Carlsbad Caves? Are they there all year round, or are they seasonal?

@ericpierce3660 Ай бұрын

If you visit Carlsbad Caverns, be sure to take the natural entrance if you are able. If you take the Visitor Center entrance instead, you'll just go down an elevator and step out into the Big Room. Kind of anti-climactic and boring. It won't be _nearly_ as impressive as going down the natural entrance, where following in the footsteps of explorer Jim White, you'll go down and down and down and down, entering chamber after chamber, each one bigger than the previous one, until you finally end up in the Big Room, so large that when White held up a lantern, he couldn't see the roof of the cavern. That's how you experience a little bit of the wonder he experienced!

@alexritchie4586 Ай бұрын

I've always been fascinated by the concept of para-life. That there may well be other forms of life completely different from our evolutionary tree right here on Earth.

@buckmazz Ай бұрын

They want to see how their hardware will perform in Australia.

@Stealth86651 Ай бұрын

Nooo, don't fall for it NASA, stay away from The Caves.

@e.manaka2140 Ай бұрын

looks like... Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia to me!

@NathanCabs Ай бұрын

We will never find life in another planet using Earth's stabdards

@callinglast Ай бұрын

Heyyyy! Dewey escaped Woodsboro and went to the caves!!!

@nmtumbleweed5320 Ай бұрын

Discovered😂

@DavidCraig-go1zv Ай бұрын

Bioelectrochemical. I love her t-shirt. "What doesn't kill you, mutates and tries again. 😄

@gabiporter6552 Ай бұрын

The shirt, what doesn't kill you , mutates and tries again ! I need that!

@user-dt9qc5uv2m Ай бұрын

Seems NASA is also becoming more interested in our oceans. Anyone watching the Ocean's ROV channel? Incredible life forms, many transparent. But one the "Barrelhead" is so bizarre, body of a normal looking fish but a transparent head! One of the creepiest is the "Sling-jaw fish" with a normal looking jaw but it shoots out like a telescope really creepy. There's also a sea slug that can chop off its own head and grow a new body!

@Zach-ku6eu Ай бұрын

Seed them over the equatorial methane zones of Mars!

@chronicfatiguehermithiker3022 19 күн бұрын

Giant creature.

@danjohnston9037 Ай бұрын

Thumbnail worked

@jamiegallier2106 Ай бұрын

❤

@johnnybanana8562 Ай бұрын

They can use the cave as a hideout when justice comes for them...

@debracarter7290 Ай бұрын

When I saw her shirt I thought of Covid.

@Melody-mt5im Ай бұрын

Viruses are an excellent example for her shirt. 😉

@subrotosarkar1900 29 күн бұрын

After all this .West and Europe still loves this people and this Religion. What a shame😢

@TomCrosman 8 күн бұрын

What about the upside down cave? All I heard was a discussion about carlsbad.

@jasonwinters2708 Ай бұрын

As long as there is water dripping it really does not take that long for those stalactites and stalagmites to form they try and tell us they took millions of years to form when actually they could form in just a few hundred years

@Melody-mt5im Ай бұрын

I’m sure they have actual evidence to back up the millions of years claim. 👍 That is the type of thing that can be pretty easily measured, and as scientists, I would expect they wouldn’t just throw around numbers like that willy nilly. 😉