Mysterious Life of Caves

This NOVA episode opens with audience-grabbing shots of several gas-masked researchers surveying life forms in a deep subterranean cave, while above their heads hang long strands of what looks like mucus, but turns out to be--to their astonishment--sulfuric acid. Suddenly, alarms go off, alerting the team that carbon monoxide is present in the air. It's a hostile environment; one that you wouldn't expect to support life, but it does, and that phenomenon is the focus of Mysterious Life Of Caves, which follows scientists into some of the most beautiful and dangerous caves in the world, from New Mexico's Lechuguilla (America's deepest cave; home to some of the most stunning formations ever discovered) to the world-famous Carlsbad Caverns. Discovering that life can exist in treacherous environments--thriving at above boiling temperatures or in acidic surroundings that would kill us--scientists ultimately hope to shed light on the types of life that may survive on distant planets as Mars. Entertaining and informative, this is recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (J. Asala)