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Call for questions: CAVES (Patreon)

Published:
2024-07-18 22:37:18
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Sea caves, stinky caves, glacier caves, vertical caves! Cave animals, cave weather, cave acoustics, cave discoveries! Leave a comment with your questions on caves. Oh, and let me know if you're a first time question asker (FTQA) or have any notes on pronouncing your name.

Deadline: Thursday, July 25 at noon PST

 Fingal's Cave in Staffa, Scotland

Comments

wicker bitch

TALK TO ME ABOUT CAVE CHEESE

Gemma

what are your thoughts on the term, ‘caveman’?

Gemma

have we or can we explore caves on other planets?

AJG C

How would you rate Minecraft caves based on accuracy and also prettiness and animals in them? (FTQA)

Andy Guarnaccia

A bit morbid, but is there truth to the idea that a good number of missing peoples may have gotten lost in some nearby cave system?

Cyntia B

What is the deepest cave ever explored by people?

Lily

ELEPHANTS IN CAVES ! ELEPHANTS IN CAVES ! "A fragile population of unique and fascinating ‘cave elephants’ exists on Mount Elgon in western Kenya. These are the only elephants in the world known to go deep into caves to mine salt. For many years it has been widely known that these elephants penetrate 150m into Kitum Cave within Kenya’s Mount Elgon National Park, where their tusking marks are clearly visible on the cave walls. Unknown to science until very recently, however, this elephant cave-mining behaviour is more complex than previously realised and extends to at least 18 and, most probably, very many more caves."

Griffin Russell

I’m from Canada and live on the Canadian Shield, I’ve always thought there should be cool caves in the granite rock but have found almost none in my life.. does granite like the Canadian Shield not make good caves, if yes, why?

slam whitey

Are there caves on the moon and mars?

Cyntia B

What is your favorite and most original cave-dwelling animal?

Sydonie S.

What are current efforts for cave restoration? How can we help to preserve caves and their ecosystems?

terry goss

Is there a way to tell if a cave is a “murder cave”? - (has trapped heavier gasses than air inside, and will immediately suffocate you if you spelunk)…

Cian verbridge

Abandoned cement buildings, can they be considered caves or are they going to become their own unique field ?

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

What is the highest and lowest cave known on earth? Are there caves in the deep sea? Are there any artificially created caves for tourism? Are caves caused by erosion as land masses formed and water retreated? Where is the oldest cave on earth or is there a way to tell the age of a cave? How many historic caves have collapsed due to mining or other manmade interventions?

Jazmin Wells

do you think there are creatures in caves that have not yet been discovered? like how the ocean is fulllll of living beings that we may never know about?

terry goss

Did “cavemen” actually spend a significant period of prehistory purely in caves?

Cathy

FTQA. How do cave ecosystems develop? How do fish end up in isolated lakes within caves?

Jazmin Wells

also what’s up with the moon cave that was just discovered?? and would that REALLY be a place that astronauts could shelter?

terry goss

Thoughts on the amazing documentary (😏) with Ringo Starr and Dennis Quaid, “Caveman”?

EvasiveDodge

FTQA - Bears... tell me more about bears in caves? ancient? Modern? what about the caves on the Moon they just discovered - were there bears there?

Julia Lorraine

Also was wondering about this. Did land masses moving cause caves? Glaciers? How are these suckers so intriquite and so vast?

Han the Bee

Why are caves so wonderfully cozy??? Every cave I have been in, including the scary ones, are also beautiful or interesting, or a good place for a nap. I really think Dwarves have the right idea and we should all be enjoying life underground

Rachel Robinson

FTQA. I love them in concept, however when I have went on guided tours of them in the past I usually have an anxiety attack because I am so worried they will collapse on us. Why don’t caves all collapse under the wait of the surface above? How do we know as the general public and as geologists which caves are safe and which aren’t?

Lisa St

kinda cold and muddy though, no?

Gemma

what are your thoughts on minecraft caves? aside from monsters, they have so many different rocks, minerals, gems, environments, animals, and even stalactite! is there anything you think they should add or do differently?

Anna Dylan

How do people discover caving routes that have really tight entrances that you wouldn’t notice? I once went caving and the entrance was literally a crack in the rock face that I didn’t even see and it blew my mind when I actually fit inside

Michelle Lee

what makes a cave a cave? for example are they determined by size, material, formation? are cenotes just vertical caves?

John Bochanski

Are there any “Atlantis” caves? Or frontier caves that haven’t been fully mapped? And do you dream about other caves in the solar system? The moon has lots of lava tubes.

Brittany Shafis

I took a cave tour (just Midwest things 🥰) and our tour guide pointed out a sleeping brown bat, calling it a flying chicken nugget. Have you seen any cave critters and if so, any funny or interesting stories or nicknames for them?

LightBrownPillow

How long-lasting are lava tubes? Do they collapse more often than caves etched out by rivers over millions of years? What is the highest-altitude cave entry we know about?

Kristina Weaver

I want to know how the crystal cave in Put-in-Bay, Ohio was formed and are there other crystal caves out there?

Clover

My friend is terrified of caves, and I was wondering how dangerous they actually are?

Lily

How do caves help us learn about the past? I know that caves have been part of huge archaeological discoveries like Homo naledi, a close, extinct, relative to us discovered in 2013 in the Rising Star Cave system (Gauteng province, South Africa). But also, what can they tell us about the climate of the past and how our climate today is changing?

Rachel Robinson

What is the “normal” amount of caution I should feel / experience around caves?

Aimee Ford

FTQA: Are there any signs to look for on the surface that would indicate the presence of a cave underneath? I live in the mountains of Western North Carolina and I know there are some caves in the region, but when I look at the land around me, I always wonder how one would find a cave if there isn't an opening. Also, does it bother you how people in a wilderness area in a story can always seem to find a cave when they need one for shelter? It bugs me.

Brittany Shafis

A cave by my grandma’s house had a trapped fish that would come up to the tour boats and swim in circles for treats.

Lily

Why are some underground caves poisonous/toxic? What's going on there?

Natalie Rousseau

I love caves! I was an avid cave explorer pre Covid and then decided to get a masters degree and change jobs and stuff- BUT WHY do American cavers hate the term spelunker? I just know it’s a faux pas but no one has ever explained the WHY. Also, if you’re three hours into a cave and your tummy goes a rumbly, what does your decision tree look like? This was always a hot topic of conversation around a campsite and (sometimes) in the bowels of the earth (pun intended).

Gemma

what are paleoburrows? how do we determine whether or not a burrow/cave was dug out by an ancient animal?

Seán Thomas Kane

At what point in human evolution or human history do anthropologists think caves went from being places of shelter to places that people would fear?

Kristin

Hello! Long time listener, FTQA - is there a way to detect a cave that is not opened to the surface? I grew up in an area with lots of caves and sinkholes. There is a large "crater" in the ground there that I've always wondered if it was a collapsed cave entrance. I always dreamed of discovering a cave as a kid!

Gemma

what is Plato’s ‘Myth of the Cave’

6-1-49er-Joe

Ooh, fun. A couple of questions: 1) We’re always told not to touch the stalagmites or stalactites in caves or it will ruin their growth. Can one touch really do that, and what exactly happens to kill the growth? 2) What conditions do you need to have so-called ice caves? I remember a visit to Lava Beds National Monument in California during the hot late summer and was somewhat stumped an ice pond could exist.

Naomi Crawford

First time question asker! In your humble (or not so humble!) opinion, what is the coolest cave? I don't mean the coldest, I mean the coolest 😎

fleshverse

FTQA here - what kinds of bugs live in caves? And for the Ologist, have you had any cool/wacky/freaky interactions with any of these critters? Thanks so much :)

Aimee Ford

FTQA: Do sinkholes, like in Florida, count as caves? I know they form from a weak spot in the limestone when water levels drop in the aquifer, but are they hollow before the surface collapses? Does that count as a cave? What about cenotes? Are they just sink holes that have filled with fresh water over time? Does any hollow space under the earth, open to the surface or not, count as a cave?

Gemma

CAVE CHEESE?? let’s talk about natures fridge: food storage and preservation!!!

Han the Bee

Growing up in Texas - I always just considered it a nice way to cool off and get out of the heat. Haha!

T Noz

Have told people for years that their children will end up living underground due to the surface of the planet becoming unlivable due to "climate change" (think of it more of a human species caused massive distortion of the carbon cycle). Maybe your guest will have a opinion on constructing manmade caves to harbor those who survive.

Jeri Webb

Hoping you will cover cave art, the people who made it, when they made it, and the various locations around the world!

RJ Doidge

Is there etymology for stalagmites and stalactites?? Is there a silly pneumonic to remember?

Miranda Ramirez

First time question asker: What is the largest known Cave system and what is the creepiest thing discovered in a cave?

Jessica Ward

What conditions do caves form in? Is there anywhere where there are more likely to be caves? Are there caves under the ground we don't know about?

EDM

Ftqa (I love you all; hugs for all who want one) are there caves on other planets? Can caves be made by gases or water only? How many unmapped cave systems are on earth, do you think? I’m so excited for this one!!!

Gemma

is there anything in caves that glow in the dark?

EDM

And I’m Elizabeth Mullins, ftqa

CurtisDawg

Have they ever been stuck between a rock and a hard place? :-)

Karleigh Dehlsen

What are the safety procedures for cave diving?

Mariah Ramsey

What separates a cave vs. a hole in the ground? Why am I so worried about a hidden cave turning into a sinkhole and swallowing me whole?

Athena Tee

What’s the oldest cave art, we’ve found? Was it from humans?

Gemma

what the hell is going on with Derinkuyu? how was it made? who lives there? how has it not collapsed? WHAT????

Aki

Did you hear about caves discovered in the moon? What can we expect to find? How excited are you about the discovery? Did you know it was only a matter of time we found caves on the moon?

C dB

Please focus on archaeological, early human artifacts and art found in caves. Thank you!

Kelsey lore

Are there any animals who specifically make a habitat of Blow Holes, or are they too dangerous for animals to live in semi-permanently?

Gemma

would you like to live in a cave?

Kelly Dooling

What are some adaptations that animals have developed to survive in caves?

KirjoM

Are there urban legends or folklores about some caves?

Cori

Why are they so scary? Is there anything interesting to know about the claustrophobia

Gemma

how the hell do hot springs work, and how do underground hot springs not dissipate?

Erin White

Are caves made by anything other than water and giant sloths, or it is water/sloths or bust? Do lava tubes count or are those just... tubes I guess?

Cat Baklarz

I was thinking about this in a different way- I wanted ask if there's a reason we want to explore caves even though they're definitionally scary (dark, no snacks.)

Michele Smith

Questions from my 11-year-old daughter: What cave has the best acoustics in the whole world? Approximately how many humans are living in caves right now?

Carl Ellis

Are caves still teaching humans anything? What was the latest discovery? FTQA. Thanks, love your show :)

Ettegoom

Are there any caves that could be considered musical? Like they have bits that make noise when wind blows over them, but like, more than one, so it's not just a single sound that is played by the wind (if that makes sense at all?)

Cat Baklarz

Oh there are these caves in Europe (Germany?) that we don't know why they exist bc they're too small to be functional, and there's nothing remaining inside them. I know that's vague, I'll try to find the name

Gemma

why do some animals just have irresistible urges to dig burrows and/or live in burrows?

Brooke Williams

Why do cave animals sometimes have no eyes?

Zinc

what sort of geographical events happen in order to cause such unnatural looking cave structures, such as perfect “staircases”?

Zinc

what sort of folklore around caves would you like to share?

carl vossen

FTQA (love you alie!!!) carl vossen! what causes the differences in shape/appearance for stalactites & stalagmites? i’ve seen icicle looking ones but also cube shaped ones 🤔

Zinc

how universal is the cultural significance of caves?

Brooke Williams

How does rock composition affect how caves form/the shape of them?

Wendy Miller

Which country has the most caves (I’m going with ones that are easily accessible by humans basis)? And any cave with the most bats, a veritable thriving batropolis?

Steven Lee

How often are we finding caves with new cultural significance, wall art, artifacts, tools etc. I feel like up to the 90s had a boom for this and now we rarely hear about new big findings.

Maureen Flood

Are there caves stable enough to house humans for extended periods? How deep is the deepest known cave? Can we retreat into caves when the apocalypse comes?

Megging

What is the legacy of the Stalacpipe Organ? Is it possible for tourism to benefit a local economy and support science enough to counteract the physical damage such a project could have on a cavern ecosystem?

Christian Swenson

FTQA-What caves have the longest echo? What are the different acoustic properties of caves?

Anjali Himali

Why are there caves in some places like Europe more than others? I feel like I see a lot of press around Neanderthal culture found in caves in France. What makes a good cave, especially for humans to live in?

Emily Krieger

is a cave essentially the first nonhuman-made home?

Renee vanden Hoven

FTQA- a few years ago there was some sort of news story that there was a lush cave discovered in china that had a whole different ecosystem than the forest surrounding it and they discovered tons of new plant and bug species. was this a real thing or just another twitter lie? and if it was have there been more discoveries like this? is this common?

Faith Stemmler

What is proper "cave etiquette"? Are you really not supposed to touch rock formations in caves because the oils in your skin could damage them?

Yuri

Is the idea of using a cave on the moon or Mars, sealing off the entrances, and filling it with an oxygenated atmosphere actually viable?

Sydney Toups

Besides the obvious safety questions, how is it decided if a cave will be used for tourism? I imagine there's a certain expectation of damage, so what goes in to deciding it's worth it versus what stays off limits?

Tessa Marks

FTQA - What are the unique properties of microbiomes in caves? I imagine this might be of specific interest in glacier caves

Lizzy Martinez

So I'll preface my question by sharing in La Jolla, CA, there's the Cave Store that opens up to a cave at the bottom of old steps that was once used as a bootlegger's tunnel - so I'm curious, what is the most historic cave (man made or not) in the US?

Nicole Kleinman

Is it true there are some caves where absolutely nothing lives?

Mckaylia Marshall

Do caves ever serve as a fossil medium? Like are they ways that they’re created conducive to fossil creation? What does that look like?

Becky Wilkinson

My 9 year old daughter (and my husband) would like to know how caves are formed.

Robin Stumbo

spelunking: why do we love doing it? how long have we been doing it? how can people (safely) get into doing it? asking for a friend....

Darren Bush

Okay, bats and white nose disease. Is this going to leave us bat-less unless we do something systemic? Are humans causing the spread? Also, I have a dream of being on an airplane and you get on and sit by me and we nerd out about stuff for a minute. Then you put on your headphones and disappear into your own, well-deserved world.

Saira (‘Sarah’) Manns

I saw a news article about a cave they found on the moon! Would love to hear the ologist’s thoughts on it

Between Dumplings

How is a cenote different from a cave in terms of how they're formed? Where do cave explorers poop when they're spelunking? Do they pack it out with them?

Anilee

How do caves maintain a consistent temperature once you hit a certain level? The ones in Alabama stay 59 degrees no matter the temperature outside, why?

Justin Bowen

Earthquakes. Why are caves safe places to be during earthquakes?

Kelsey Simon

Are lava tubes considered caves?

Ninja Squirrel

First time question asker here. Is it true that The Mammoth Cave network connects to a cave network in New Mexico?

Diana Staresinic-Deane

I'm in a state with few caves (Kansas) but next to a state with lots of caves (Missouri). I am ever amazed to see structures built on land above caves! How do cave roofs support construction, and do builders have to do anything special to ensure the karst can support structures? (My greatest fear is falling into a cave while excavating a basement. ) just call me Diana S-D

Jacob Shepherd

This may be more on the psychological end of it and not the caves themselves, but Why are caves terrifying?

Travis Tidwell

Has white-nose syndrome's spread been curbed by prevention efforts, or is it still as bad as it was last decade? Are we still killing our sweet baby North American bats at the same rate?

Vanessa Adams

FTQ: how well do caves preserve history? Some cave paintings hold up well but is there other history to discover in them?

Bratty Ratty

FTQA: what about caves does the average person not appreciate enough?

Alice In NewZealand

FTQA here. I live in New Zealand and most caves here contain glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa, actually a type of gnat which produces bioluminesence in the larval stage). (As an aside, they are magical to look at and Alie, you should come to New Zealand and see them, and stay in my guest house and be my friend). As far as my actual question, have you (the ologist) ever seen these glowworms? How common is bioluminesence in cave-dwelling organisms and what are some other examples? Is it more common in the twilight zone or are there others than can be found in the dark zone? (the NZ glowworms occur in both I believe)

Abby Grieb

Have we found all the caves on earth or are there still caves to discover? Who gets to name new ones? How many caves are there on the planet and are there places or types of land where caves are more/less common ?

Sonjabird

What is this Ologist’s favorite cave that they’ve been to? Carlsbad blew my mind and am looking to explore more.

Zed Shirogane

What cave is on your bucket list to see in person, like a dream destination you want to visit?

Toby Winn

FTQA: First off let me just say I have fallen for this show and have used it to listen to for the last few years because all the topics are amazing! Second thank you! Third: my question is for someone who has an interest to visit and explore caves what would be the first cave to start on? And what is the best cave you have ever had the chance to visit?

Renee W

Where are all these caves that bears are hibernating in? Are there other animals that are able to find these sneaky caves too to hibernate and/or live in? (FTQA)

Amy Copler

FTQA: How can I find out which caves are ok for me to explore and do I need to make sure I have a legit guide or go with a hiking buddy? I want to explore, but I don’t want to die, lol….

Ken Chambers

Is Jewel Cave one huge geode?

Average_pi

Are caves romantic? Do caves have good water?

Niquita42

The lava tubes in Washington have this amazing bacteria on the walls and ceiling that looks like stars. Was is it? Does it have a role in cane ecosystems?

Maria ∠( ᐛ 」∠)＿

👀👀 caves !!!! Yippee!!! I use they/them pronouns~~ FTQA 1. cave diving??? Horrifying??? Spelunking is already nightmare territory but people take it further and go like. Scuba diving within the process of spelunking. Why???? What’s down there???? 2. what’s the funkiest (affectionate) animal that live primarily in caves? I know there are like. Cave fish that evolved without eyes because it’s so pitch black in there. Are there are other funky evolutionary traits cave animals evolve with? 3. cave acoustics. why are they so hauntingly beautiful ??

Jenn Macgillivray

Ooh fuck, I love caves so much! I did a hike to the Achtun Tikal Muknal cave in Belize a few years ago and I loved the dark and quiet and cool water and bat friends so much I would fully live in a cave if I could! I guess that’s my question. Can I live in a cave? What is the human impact on caves, both now with tourists and spelunkers, and in the ancient past? Our tour took us to see the “crystal princess”, a Mayan sacrifice victim who’s skeleton had turned completely to stone over thousands of years and it was the closest thing to a religious experience I’ve ever had, but I wonder about the impact both she and I have had on the cave ecology. (I love the bats so much and I want them to be happy.)

Jenn Macgillivray

Yes, I’m sure they’ll talk about some famous cave deaths like the horrific one at Nutty Putty, but I’d like to hear about what went wrong and how to avoid this fate!

Jenn Macgillivray

Oh! Also, what’s the coolest thing the ologite ever saw in a cave? Aside from the Mayan sacrifice victims and artifacts, I saw a giant tarantula almost eat a pretty sizeable frog in a cave in Costa Rica which rocked my tiny mind.

Rebecca Morrison

FTQA: Sci-fi possibilities…so Dune, full cities in cave systems. Is that possible? Are there any known cave systems on Earth that could support that type of habitation? Also, is there a guess as to what percentage of caves have been discovered that are possible to discover?

Natalie Rousseau

My 10 year old asked, how old is the typical cave?

Sarah Cork Henderson

What is the coolest thing your expert has ever found in a cave?

Pavka34

What is the deepest cave currently known?

Pavka34

Thoughts on Moon caves, and how they could provide for future Moon colonies.

Taylor Morrison-Mooney

First time question asker (I think? Don’t remember fully). Any stats on the amount of people who go missing in caves? Or how that connects to the number of people who go missing in national parks, since a good number are around caves/have caves in them/are caves?

Pavka34

What are the different kinds of caves?

Pavka34

How much damage do humans do to caves and cave ecology just by being in them?

Pavka34

This is a terrible question, but a spelunking friend once said that if a cow falls into a cave they splatter all over the bottom, leaving a soft layer of cow guts to step in. Has this ever happened to our expert?

Emma‼️

(FTQA) Although this is more of a request, but please talk about mammoth cave in Kentucky!! Specifically the fact the caves served as an infirmary for tuberculosis patients at a time which I know nothing about and think is kind of sad but I also fully understand wanting to sit in a damp cave. I am also so utterly confused about the whole urban legend that people live in the cave systems throughout the Appalachian mountain range, I just wanted to share because what the hell. My boyfriend and I went on a trip close by mammoth cave recently and listened to ologies the entirety of the drive, of course. It is now one of our favorite podcasts, mine especially #loveyouforeveralie Love Emma + Luke💌

Laurel Sindewald

What's the status on our least favorite fungus - white nose syndrome?

Queen Jean

ICE CAVES. I just returned from a trip to my home town. It was a 100-degree day so we took some out-of-town guests to the Shoshone Ice Caves. I never thought much about this local attraction, but ice caves are so cool, literally and figuratively! I took the tour but the teen tour guide didn't get into the down-and-dirty science like I wanted so I am hoping your ologist can scratch that itch. Something about air flow?

Claire Maurer

FTQA: did early humans live in caves as much as I think they did or am I just thinking about shelter through the lens of a lazy modern human? Cave=instant tent with decent AC and bug controlling roommates (bats).

Eric Masterton

FTQA-is there a phobia term for being afraid of getting trapped in a cave because I definitely have it. I have nightmares about it all the time.

Amber Donat

FTQA- was a cave-ologist consulted when the US began building the cheese caves? What do cave-ologists think of them?

Rori

FTQA- why is it so cold and wet

Rori

Fitting profile pic🤣

WiGeekMom

I panic thinking about getting lost. To the point that I sometimes have an anxiety attack playing D&D.

Kellie Due

Thoughts on hollow earth theory? Would it fall under the category of caves?

Kathy Connelly

1. Deaths from gas build up in caves along the Mississippi; 2. Why is the expression “cave in” when something collapses and so isn’t cave-like at all?; 3. is Florida going to end up like a big slab of Swiss cheese as the karsty caves underground collapse all over (climate change, saltwater intrusion, etc?

Sand

How many caves have the gigantic crystals in them? Or is that photoshop?

RoadLesTravelled

Dynamic earth, indeed! Is it correct to assume most caves form because of water? Either wave action or, more subtly, through seepage resulting in the leeching of more porous materials.

Mykenzie King

Not a question that I think about the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin a lot

Miranda Panda

Tell me about food. What do cave critters eat? What can humans eat? Are there mushrooms in caves?

Miranda Panda

Why can the water in a cave look like the surface, but it's actually just more water?

Carrie Lincourt

10 year old Maeve asks: how are they made?

Rachel Beee

FTQA. I have seen a trend in several countries where high end restaurants, venues, and boutique hotels are being built in caves. Are ecological studies being done first? Are cave flora and fauna being decimated by these business ventures? I hate to think that we may be killing off undiscovered species for a rarified Michelin dining experience!

Brennan Hicks

How many plant species can actually live inside caves? Previously I assumed none, but I went caving in Mexico and saw plants growing in the depths of the cave. No sunlight, but they did have white leaves. 😵‍💫

Addie Cappello she her

Caves are awesome!!!!!!!!!! When was the first time you were in a cave? Do you have a favorite cave dwelling creature friend? (Mine are bats) do you have a favorite cave you’ve been to? How do we help battle the “scary awful” cave stigma? I’m a wildlife biologist and I’m always trying to fight the fears with good education! First time I did a winter bat hibernacula survey, I cried with joy because I couldn’t think of anything that would make me happier than doing that for the rest of my life- did you have any life changing cave experiences? Do you have any awesomely cool cave pictures to share? Please tell us all the things. Thank you!!! 🤓🦇🧡

Addie Cappello she her

It is for sure spreading -but I really hope this Ologist can give us some good news!!

Addie Cappello she her

I went into a cave in New Zealand and I can concur they are awesome. You’re so lucky!!

Jackie McCann

FTQA: I live in an area with a lot of limestone and therefore a lot of natural caves and sinkholes. Is there a professional that keeps an eye out for potential sinkholes under a road or do I just have to live in constant fear of my car being swallowed whole by a city street??

Stacy Grissom

Hi! My Smologite, Oliver (9 yo) would like to know how caves form. Thanks!

winn

FTQA- how often are new cave systems discovered? And are they usually discovered by accident? Or do people go cave hunting?

Nicky G

Are certain types of rock more likely to form caves? Basalt vs limestone, etc?

zackever8

FTQA (“Zack Everett”) The Luray Caverns in Shenandoah (Virginia) have a playable stalactite organ! Can the ologist talk about the unique acoustic environment in caves? Do all caves echo? How far does sound travel? What makes them environments where bats can easily echolocate? Thanks! Love your work Alie :)

David Villafranco

I went cave exploring last year and noticed there was like grass growing, but how is it possible for grass to grow in complete darkness? What about photosynthesis

Joe Porfido

OMG caves!! I would love to hear about any blind cave creatures

Rachel von Morrigan

I’m friggen pumped to hear this episode!! Caves are soooooo cool! (Yes, pun intended 🤣)

Dane Camacho

FTQA!! The first lunar cave was just recently confirmed! Does that mean water was definitely sloshing around up there at one time?

Allie Brown

If humans only lived in caves for the next hundreds of years would we go blind

Carleen DH

Are there caves that are totally explorable for one reason or another?

Lucy Antonelli

is that map of all the missing people in the US with all the caves matching up real? are people being taken into the caves? caves are so fuckin scary. thanks

Alix Challis

Amazing, caves fascinate me. Really looking forward to this. FTQA - I live 30 minutes away from Cheddar Gorge in the UK and have always wanted to visit the Wookey hole caves. How much damage are humans causing to these cave systems by them being a tourist attraction?

Alexandre Catulle

Are caves everywhere? What is the location of caves telling us? Do they exists on other planets, moons?

Kelly Shaver

Almost all of the deepest recorded caves in the world are in Europe. Is there a geological reason for that or is that just where the most exploring has been done?

Charlotte Fjelkegård

Yeah, is it like in Antarctica? "Leave nothing behind" and you bag it?

Marco Santoro

Are blue holes in the ocean like water caves? Can you explain blue holes and where do they go? Why do caves even happen?!

Ben Whyte

First time Question-ess -What are the most interesting and sacred caves in the world? -What's the scariest thing you've ever heard of living in the back of a cave? -What's up with underwater caves? And caves that are really high up on cliff faces? -Stalagmites and salagmites how are they made and why?

Smorgindorg

Hello! I think that people often imagine caves as these isolated, mysterious systems, inhospitable to most life. I wonder what the human relationship has been across space and time to caves. Have they always been so alien to us? Have humans explored them, avoided them, used them only for ritual or shelter? Also FTQA!

geo.sassie

I have so many questions I need a whole episode 😭 I wrote down 8 questions but have now narrowed it to 3... 1) Can you talk at all about stalactite dating?? I saw an awesome talk once where someone was using stalactites and calcite dating methods to understand the history of earthquakes in an area in Italy - has this been done anywhere else and what other info can we get from dating like that??? 2) How many cave systems are we still discovering? 3) What's the chances of finding more caves with GIANT crystals like that one in Mexico?

Jona

Ftqa: is there a depth limit for caves and how deep is the deepest known cave? Does a cave need to have an entrance? Can there be isolated enclosed cavities below us and would these considered to be a cave as well? Is there any real science that got misinterpreted to form the hollow earth movement? What is up with that? Also Minecraft: Can Amathyst geodes be lots of meters in diameter as is presented in the game?

Caro Young

How do ecosystems differ in caves? Are there any species that we can observe my find in there?

Caro Young

What are the biggest known caves?

Caro Young

How are caves formed and do they still change constantly?

Caro Young

What are the most interesting and intriguing things we have found in caves?

Caro Young

How do we date caves?

Caro Young

Why are we as humans both so awe inspired and terrified by caves? Or is it just me maybe in the only one that’s terrified?

Maria Whamond

Does the ologist think that there are any possibilities of discovering some crazy bacteria with huge potential for medicine in a cave?

Susan Singley

This is my question, too! What is it about caves that attracts some people? What is it about them that makes them so scary to others?

Lex Clearwater

how many people die in caves per year? safety tips?

Lex Clearwater

why does the water in the devils hole cave in nevada form waves when there are earthquakes thousands of miles away? does that happen with other caves as well?

Lisa Gorman

How harmful is it to cave ecosystems when we visit them? Do I need to feel bad about going on a cave tour once in a while when traveling?

Susana Capucho

Can you talk about caving/spelunking and its sides effects (diseases, prolonged darkness, solitude, ...)? I recently read an article about Beatriz Flamini, who spend 500 days in a cave in Andalusia. Even though she "really liked being there", she also apparently suffered hallucinations and paranoia.

Philip Dunsdon

How do cave explores crawl through the tiny tunnels the first time not knowing if it opens up on the end? With no way of turning around it always seems terrifying.

CocoHaras

FTQA! Caves and Climate change: - Can caves teach us about previous weather patterns and events? Similar to how we can look at tree rings or permafrost/glacial ice core samples to see different seasons, precipitation, etc. - Are cave ecosystems more susceptible to climate change, or more “stable” because of their isolation?

The Joyful Spitfire

CLIMATE CHANGE: How resistent/resilient are caves to climate change? I’m thinking about the Hang Son Doong specifically but I suppose there are others whose interiors are sizable enough to create a unique environment.

The Joyful Spitfire

ANIMAL VARIETY: when I think of caves I think bats but I am curious what other animals and insects live in caves. Are there other mammals that make caves home?

The Joyful Spitfire

FEAR OF CAVES. speluncaphobia. Let’s talk about the fear of caves. Why are some people so excited to crawl around on their bellies or canoe into the dark abyss while others would **simply never**. Is there a neurological reason (brain chemistry - hormone shenanigans - size of a specific part of the brain) that explains why this fear is triggered?

Katherine Munro

FTQA: with the recent findings on caves on the moon, what will we be looking for/ at that will be different to earth caves, and is there anything that could change how we look at caves on Earth?

Jeremy Hakes

Please talk about paleontological discoveries - caves have provided lots of important specimens all over the world.

Jenna Congdon

How big does a lil' rock crevice have to be to be considered a cave? Is there an official definition?

Katy

I know there isn't much info yet, but I would love some talk about the newly discovered moon cave!

Adam Foote

Does a cave have to be made of natural rock? I'm thinking about if a sewer system is a man-made cave and I'm going slightly mad. Same sort of thought, but would, like, an anvil cloud in a thunderstorm potentially be a sky cave? ...Incredibly, this isn't a shower/high thought.

Christopher Blubaugh

Are there areas of sedimentary rock deposits that scientists have expected to find cave systems and frustratingly have not been able to find them? Are there any areas of depleted oil & gas reserves that then form voids and cave systems & have since become hospitable to life? (Also Alie, great job on pronouncing my last name correctly in the Psychedeliology episode! 👍🏼)

Olivia Eliasson

Is it true that there were cave bears and cave lions in Britain during the ice age? How could lions be that far up??

Olivia Eliasson

Does cave painting have any purpose outside of being art?

Olivia Eliasson

I want to know everything about the mammoth cave, how did it get so big? how did it get its name? Tell me everything!

Elizabeth A Halliday-Reynolds

FTQA how is climate change changing cave life? Are water levels rising inside them or lowering? Are we loosing cave species?

Sadie Vipond

What are some weird adaptations cave-dwelling creatures have??

Palytoxin Princess

Ice Caves: How static is their formation? Are they constantly changing shape, like glaciers? Are they "younger" in age than rock-based caves?

Alison Gussack

Same with my name on Mantidology! Some people just know how to pronounce stuff

Alison Gussack

What lives in caves and are we seeing that change in species and/or numbers with changes in the earth’s surface and atmosphere?

Eric Purviance

First time question asker, person.... Thank you, Alie for the most amazing science and entertainment podcasts out there. You, This American Life and Radiolab, are my go-to's for fascinating science and learning. Thank you... OK, my questions is, I did a lot of diving around the world, but did not do many cave dives, other than around La Jolla CA. How prevalent are underwater caves, and what is the largest underwater cave we know of? Cheers!

Emma Bockrath

First time question asker here! 🫶🏻 How dark do caves get? Are there any creatures living in caves that provide some sort of light source or are most things able to see in the dark?

Lorraine Boissoneault

I recently discovered there are bacterial mats in caves called "snottites" (yes as gross-looking as they sound). They synthesize sulfur and produce sulfuric acid. How large a role do scientists now think they play in cave formation?

Anastasia Press

How have caves shaped cultural practices and beliefs around the world?

Sharon

How common are caves? As I travel, I see cave tours everywhere? Where are caves most prevalent?

Sharon

What are the most extensive cave systems around the world? Are they still growing and forming?

Sharon

I went to Carlsbad Caverns and it was phenomenal! Wow! They said that there were layers to caves - different levels of caverns that weren’t open to the public. Is that common in cave formations. .

Emmett

Have you heard any of the speculations about caves being the housing of the future? What do you think?

Val Vanderlip

Just how big is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky? I heard it connects to Carlsbad Cavern! I would like to more about the enslaved people who explored, identified and then led tours in US caves.

daniel schmaniel

what makes a cave a cave? what's the difference between a cave and a hole in the side of a mountain?

daniel schmaniel

do you have an opinion about cave paintings drawn in a way that makes them appear animated in the flicker of a flame? or do you think there's a different intention?

Kevin Tiemeyer

First time question. Could a geode be considered a cave?

Patricia Evans

So many really old archaeological discoveries have been made in caves - including sites of ritual and burial. Should we be respecting our ancestors wishes to leave these sites as we found them?

Kieran H

What’s up with that cave with the giant crystals in it? How does something like that form?

Kieran H

If you could live in any cave in the world, which one would it be?

Kieran H

Oof I’m wondering about this too. My first thought when I think of caves is why do people even go caving?! Just the thought of being in a tight, dark space gives me the willies?!

Stephen Moxley

How do professionals stay safe in new/unexplored cave systems?! Stories like the nutty putty cave absolutely terrify me and I can’t imagine doing that for a living without some prep work / assurance that I’m not going to get stuck or be crushed 😭

Cate Muenker

Where is the oldest cave painting? How old is it?

Kol_DB

FTQA: I know I shouldn't drink cave water but if I could would it taste delicious due to all the minerals? And will you actually start hallucinating after like 10 minutes in a pitch black cave or is that a myth?

Julia Ricard

What does the prefix stalag mean?

Nathalie Jones

Why are caves generally considered sacred or as special burial sites across many many cultures? (also you slayed at pronouncing my name for the squirrel ep, I trust you)

Wildlife Tech Grace

FTQA: I know caves can have microclimates, but haven't some been recorded/observed to have their own weather pattern? is that a thing? How common is it for this phenomenon to occur?

Eileen

FTQA—saw something about a cave (cave system?) recent discovered on the Moon. How much, if anything, do we know about caves on other worlds? Are they formed in similar manner as on Earth? Do we know that much about how they’re formed on Earth? Okay, that’s probably more questions than 1 person should ask 😆

Tania Magic Fingers

What is it that drives people to have potholing/spelunking as a hobby?

Jazmin Wells

YES MICHELLE!! caves under the surface of the moon, absolutely bananas!

Jessica Chance

Do the forms of life in caves give us insights into evolution?

Lauren Clark

We have evidence of cave paintings from over 45,000 years ago. We know caves have played such an important role in human spiritual and ritualistic traditions. Do we have any evidence or research about caves being the precursor to churches? An awe-inducing space that seems to be outside of space, light and time.

Joyologist

(FTQA) do caves have special environmental protection? What kind of critters live in the deepest caves?

Jessica K

FTQA - might not be a question for the ologist but can you please discuss the American cheese caves. Also definitions: what’s the difference between a cave and a tunnel? Can there be a man-made cave? At what point is there so much infrastructure that it *stops* being a cave?

Vanessa Frey

Not a question but just wanted to say I visited Fingal's Cave a couple years ago and it was amazing! Loved the amazing hexagonal basalt columns that made up walls of the cave.

Erin Everton

This one feels really not smart lol but why don’t more caves…..collapse? What’s keeping them structurally sound?

Erin Everton

Also, thoughts on the formations in Wind Cave? I wanna go visit once the elevator is done replacement!

Amanda

I love hearing stories of people living in caves! Can you share your favorite?

Becki Grady

Putty Cave. The guy that got stuck upside down…did they at least inject him with something to end his suffering once they realized he was not getting out?

Lauren Hurlburt

What is the oldest cave you've ever been in or even the oldest known cave in the world. I went on a cavecation around missouri and went to a bunch of caves and they were all around the same age as they're from the same inland sea.

EDM

Are there caves under the ocean floor?

Alice In NewZealand

They don't just occur in caves, sometimes little dark crevices out in the bush have them. There's a spot 2 minutes walk from my house next to a little stream that has a few. They are so cool! Did you know they catch prey by dangling strands of sticky mucus?

Diane Heise

Do caves and karst go together?

New Hampshire Jim

FTQA: Are aquifers just underground cave lakes? Do some caves connect to aquifers for their source of water? Thanks, love your show.

Kayla Meyer

FTQA: i have two questions and this first one is kind of a two in one question, but 1) what are the differences between stalactites and stalagmites?? what are they made of/how do they form? 2) is there a difference between the geologic makeup/development of an underwater cave and a cave that’s entirely on land?

Scott Sheldon

Unfortunately I have to ask about the Tham Luang cave rescue. Can you give us a technical answer to what happened and how those kids were saved?

Scott Sheldon

As a white cis-man in Colorado…I’ve seen that in the Yucatán there are videos that promote I would guess unsustainable people and those consequences

Josie Arnold

(FTQA) What’s the deal with preserved bodies/human remnants being found in caves? Does it have to do with minerals, humidity, lack of disturbance by humans and/or life forms? I feel like I don’t hear about it often… but certainly more than I hear about other well-preserved bodies…

Sharyon Holness

(FTQA) since one cave’s speleothems doesn’t provide data enough for determining climate trends, how large of a geographical area is needed? (My name is pronounced “Sharon” 😉)

Annmarie Everhart

What can caves tell us about prior civilizations/early humans?

Hailey

FTQA I lived in Springfield, Missouri for a couple years when I was younger, and with all the caves in the Ozarks, we got to go on school trips to Fantastic Caverns, which was amazing! But I’m wondering, are the cheese caves real?? Thank you!

Tomcat

What is your favourite cave dwelling animal?

Gene Phillips

(FTQA) Is there an agreed upon size at which a cave is considered a cavern?

Will Pergl

I was just back in a hot spring vapor cave in Ouray, Colorado… what’s up with the vapors? Why is this cave my favorite place in the world?

Leanna Shuster

We generally think of caves being colder than the environment directly outside of them, and getting colder the deeper you go in. Are there any caves that go against this trend?

Leanna Shuster

Almost 20 years ago we visited Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota - absolutely stunning! One of the rock formations that stands out in my memory the most is CAVE BACON! The colors and rippled shape really looked like cave bacon. Is this an official name for the formation and how does it form?

Sara in Montana

i am leaving in 30 minutes for a week long caving trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area (The Bob) in Montana. The deepest cave in the U.S. is currently located there. I am super excited about this episode. Question- What technology (robots, lidar, etc) has been purpose built to support caving, and could it help reduce human impact in sensitive cave ecosystems?

Marianne Thomas

This is so cool! Can't wait for this one. I've never understood how caves can be used to store food- like for ageing cheeses- when they're so damp. Are there good molds & bad molds? Or is it only cheese that lives in caves? If I need to escape into the mountains, what groceries can I store in my new cave home?

Olga Kolesnikova

What is the coolest cave ever or the coolest thing found in a cave? Btw I sent a few questions before but I didn't realise I had to say first time question asker!

Leanna Shuster

My daughter is a Minecraft player and she wants to know, is it true that diamonds form more frequently the deeper you go?

Leanna Shuster

Regarding echoes in caves, I'm assuming that the length of the echo delay depends on the distance between you and a solid cave wall, but is there a limit? Like is there a maximum amount of echo that is possible?

Caro Young

What’s the best and safest way to explore and map caves these days?

-e-

FTQA, eric: Any clues in current CAVE research to suggest potential sapiens-like sentience someday in subterranean den dwellers? ( --evolving to become Earth's most affective organism in "The World Without Us" . )

Madison Armand

What did you think of the movie The Descent?

Grace

Long time listener - FTQA! Are there any recently-explored caves or cave discoveries that blew your mind? How often do we discover new caves in this day & age?

Gene Phillips

(FTQA second question on this topic) What is the biggest animal that spends 100% of its time in caves?

Gene Phillips

(FTQA third question on this topic) How common is it to find evidence of ancient humans in caves?

Tia V

What's the longest/biggest cave system in the world and how do caving exploration groups work with local governments to conduct research?

Bonnie M Rutherford

I'm curious about how living in caves affects one's health. While visiting Turkey I spent several days in the Cappadocia region. I visited many cities and saw the underground cities that were huge. For example Derinkuyu was supposed to have housed up to 10,000 people. There are a few people that still live in the caves there but I was told it wasn't healthy to do so. I've been curious as to why that was the case.

Bonnie M Rutherford

After visiting Llava Beds National Monument, and lava tubes in my home state of Washington, I'm curious whether or not and lava tubes are considered caves? I know they called the large lava tube near Mount St Helens the Ape Caves, so are they technically caves?

Magsaroni

FTQA: I have an intense fear of caves, what is the appeal? Also, cave diving - only crazy people would do that, right? In all seriousness, any suggestions for dealing with a fear of caves?

Kirsten Love

Mapping new caves by wiggling through tight spaces without knowing when or even if will end - especially if underwater sounds terrifying - why and how do people get into it?

Kendall M

There’s several horror movies that take place in caves, have you watched any of them/do you have a favorite?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) How much of the world is made of caves? How much is mapped out and how much isn't? Is Google Maps going into caves? How many cities have underground labyrinths like the catacombs in Paris? 2) How are caves formed? Tectonic activity? Groundwater erosion? Moles? Magic? 3) How much of early hominid history uses caves as homes? How much did hominids have to fight other animals who also wanted to live in caves? 4) What is the most extensive or convoluted cave system in the world? Deepest? Largest? Most sparkly? Spookiest? Coolest ones you think people should hear about? 5) Is cave tourism a significant component of ecotourism? Is cave tourism sustainable or would it damage caves? 6) What are caving safety tips people should know? Are there signs that a location might collapse? Can you tell where toxic gases might be? 7) How does the lack of sunlight shape cave ecologies? Are there still seasons in caves? Who likes to live there? How common is bioluminescence? 8) Is the United States government cheese cave real?? Can we visit them?? 9) How much groundwater ends up in caves? Do caves function as flood reservoirs?

Autumn Knol

Humans seem to have found shelter in caves for centuries - how have caves shaped our cultures/mythology?

Autumn Knol

What is the definition of a "cave" - does it just have to be a hole in the earth? Does it have to be a certain size?

Ashton McCall

How many caves are estimated to be undiscovered on the planet? Like, how RARE are they?

Nayomi Santos

Why are acoustics in caves so damn good?

Biscuits and Gravy

FTQA: I recently learned about the Stalacpipe Organ in Luray Caverns. Are there any other caves that have cool unique features / art installations?

Mariah Walzer

I'm always scared of getting trapped in caves by the walls or ceilings collapsing and then running out of air, even in highly-developed tourist caves. Any facts that might help me be less scared? (Or am I totally justified and should just avoid caves for the rest of my life? ;D)

Amber McIntyre

How do deep caves have oxygen? How do they have a continual air supply (or do they?) - and why are manmade caves/mines pumped with oxygen (I think?)

GhoulNextDoor

What is plant and animal life like in caves? How much of it has been recorded?

Renee K.

1. What is the difference between caves and sinkholes? Also, I am kind of afraid of being swallowed by a sinkhole. Are they everywhere, or are they concentrated in specific geographic areas? 2. What is your favorite cave documentary? 3. What is your opinion on cave tourism? 4. In your opinion, what is the coolest cave-dwelling creature? 5. What are some different types of caves?

Deviancy

I love caves. I think they’re beautiful. Is there a safe way to visit caves without causing too much environmental damage? Or should I just enjoy the photos?

Shelby Medlock

FTQA here: Are any of the organisms living in caves able to disperse to other caves (other than bats)? And is the biota of a cave more similar to other faraway caves than it is to the aboveground environment around it?

Ashley Marrs

Can you share any stories about caves and mythology? I've learned about classical mythology (Hades and the river Styx, etc). How does it show up in other cultures?

Brittany Briceño

FTQA here! Can we please talk about cenotes?! I'm fascinated by the abundance of cenotes that are particularly found in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and the significance they have both geologically and historically. My understanding is that they are basically sinkholes which have opened up into water-filled cave systems- is this accurate?

GhoulNextDoor

Could you speak on the human and other hominid connection to caves? Such as archaeological discoveries in caves and cultural significances of caves in the human and hominid past?

GhoulNextDoor

If I were in the woods and needed to survive could I pop into a cave to sleep or is that a very bad idea? How can I tell if a cave is structurally sound?

GhoulNextDoor

Does interning caves put other species at risk? Such as the with transmission of white nose syndrome in bats. Or any other possible contamination that could be introduced to the environment by human interaction

Alyssa Killingsworth

FTQA: Are or in what ways are cave ecosystems susceptible to climate change??

joesyourmom

Dear scientist, why do caves smell like farts?

Madison Woofter

Are many caves protected from human influence due to their self containment and not being accessible by humans?

rowantree

What is the deepest explored cave and what is the most weird and cool and interesting thing that was found? (FTQA)

Dr Laura M Smith

Do caves have different smells? And if so, of what and why? What are some of the (new and old) technologies and techniques we are using to find out more about caves? How have things changed in recent times to lead to new discoveries? What are some of the weirdest living things found inside caves? How have things evolved to live in the deep dark depths of caves?

Megan Lundy

FTQA why are people crazy enough to dive in iceberg cave systems? What are some of the worlds most deadly caves?

Dr Laura M Smith

Also, possibly an answer to the weird things in caves - but venomous centipede-like crustaceans - remipedes. How and why do they exist?

Jess Soden

FTQA! When spelunkers are exploring new caves, and squeezing them selves into tiny rock tube cavities how do they know there is an opening at the end and they not going to get stuck and die a horrendous death. I feel stressed at just the thought of it 😬

Sarah Holloway

Are all caves made out of limestone? Or are there any from other sedimentary rocks or even igneous?

Hunter Roberts

Is there a period in history or events in history that we can point to that have caused more development of naturally forming caves? What natural events drive the formation of caves and does it vary depending on where geographically the caves are located?

Abby

How do you find caves to explore without also risking your life? or is that just not possible? Also, do animals actually often go hide in caves to find shelter from storms like they do in movies or is that just flim flam?

jangonator

Do we have an approximation for what % of caves are still unexplored? Is there an official “map of caves” somewhere?

Deborah Gray

What does guano smell like? What is the most beautiful cave in the world?

Jeffrey Bradshaw

Is limestone a requirement for a cave to form? It seems like all the caves I know are limestone caves including the one I work at Jewel Cave!

Graceanne Read

How are caves currently impacted/will they be impacted by climate change? Will we see more becoming exposed, or will some be harder or more dangerous to visit?

Graceanne Read

Other question.... I've loved visiting caves in other countries, but wonder if they're checked by agencies for their safety in the same way USGS does. are there any countries where caving is sketchy? Or some where it's definitely monitored and safe?

Michelle Cabrera

Many years ago, I visited Carlsbad Caverns. After we came back to the surface, we sat down in the amphitheater to watch the bats come out of the cave to fly off and have dinner. When birds and bats come out of that cave mouth, they all spiral up in the same direction. I know that the spiraling is done to help the birds and bats escape the downward draft into the cave mouth, but the direction of the spiral doesn’t change. Who decided which way to spiral and why?

Toni Carlton

FTQA- Were people really living in caves in earlier human eras? Were cavemen/people real?

floraandthefaun

the coolest cave i've visited so far was postojna cave in slovenia! you ride in on a mini train and there are these adorable naked eyeless baby dragons (olms) living in the cave system. i feel so lucky to have been able to visit it (even though i'm not usually one for underground spaces)! what's the ologist's favourite cave or favourite cave critter?

Josie Rutherford

What is the ologist's favorite cave? What is the difference between a cave an a tunnel? Like is a tunnel always a cave like how a square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not always a square? What type of things live in caves? How often are bats found in caves? What about mountain lions? Can caves get smaller or just bigger? Are all caves formed by water? What other ways are caves formed? How big can a cave get before it's not a cave anymore? Do you get stalagmites/stalactites in underwater caves? What happens when stalagmites and stalactites kiss? Are mining shafts considered caves? How harmful are mining facilities to natural caves? How long does it take for a cave to form? Really big ones? Did early humans really live in the caves (cavemen)? What size caves did they live in? Did they furnish their caves like we do our homes? In the Incredibles movie, the family hides in a "cave" that turns out to be secret passage way. Is this a cave or a tunnel? What is the most famous cave in pop culture? How do cave waterfalls happen? I remember going to Ruby Falls as a kid and it was just amazing. How about cave paintings, do we think they were very common? I took an art history class in college and learned about the Chauvet Cave and I was just captivated by it. What caused the mold to grow in the cave when it was opened in Lascaux? How fragile are these cave drawings? Where these caves as dangerous to reach for the people who left the paintings and drawings? What is access like to these caves? I understand that for Chauvet Cave, it is quite a challenge.

Josie Rutherford

What is the oldest and youngest known cave? Is there a point at which caves have not formed recently? Is there a reason there are a lot during a certain time frame? How do plate tectonics and movement affect caves? Can caves be formed by the plates moving? Is it safe to go into a cave? When and when isn't it safe?

Josie Rutherford

Do bears really hibernate in caves? Or do they go elsewhere?

Catie Noble

Why is it illegal to touch the walls of some caves? What happens if you do touch a cave?

Organic Free-Range Lily

Is there some sort of international initiative to survey and explore every single cave? (For example, a combo of a biologist, archaeologist, and geologist.) That could lead to so many discoveries! :) If there isn't anything like this, why not?

Kay Lucas

Is there a depth that caves cannot form, due to the pressure of gravity or the type of rock?

Mouse Paxton

Oh heck yeah, love (and am scared of) caves!! Any thoughts on the recently discovered caves on the moon? What is your favourite cave? What's the funkiest animal you've encountered in a cave? Have you seen glow worms??? What is the weirdest thing you've seen in a cave? What's the deepest cave humans have explored? What's the longest cave system? Have you heard the Minecraft cave ambience noises and what are your thoughts on those? And Minecraft's cave systems in general?

Natalie J

Fellow first time question asker that would like to second this!

Alyssa Arguijo

FTQA: Why do caves smell so good? Do we know if light from cave tours have a negative impact on the little cave dwelling critters?

Sara in Montana

FTQA! As I write this, my son, 15, and my husband are descending into one of the deepest limestone caves in the US- right here in Montana! Even more exciting is that they are with the two discoverers of the cave and some of the other high school Cave Club members from Bigfork, MT. This trip in particular was a 4 hour van ride on mostly gravel roads and a 25 mile hike each way just to have 2 days in the caves. The high school Cave Club works with the forest service to map caves and collect data. After learning of this episode, my husband sent me questions from the cave team via the GPS so that I could submit them this morning. Mr. B: What is the deepest cave in the United States? Bradley: How could climate change affect cave ecosystems? Addie: How does human activity impact cave biodiversity? Rye: is there a difference between spelunking and caving?

Katie Biardi

FTQA: I visited a cave in AZ when I was a kid and they said the cave was found as a small crack that may have been opened up during an earthquake. Is this true? And if so how many caves are there that we can't yet access? Are they even caves if there's no hole to the surface? Or is that just an air bubble in the Earth's crust (like in a loaf of bread)?

Anna Wolf

First time question asker! Anna (like Fauna) When bats nest in caves do they change the cavescape? How are caves affected by them (i know this is kinda a bat question, but i’m curious about the geology of it)

Eating dog hair for a living

When I was a kid we went to some caves in South Dakota I believe, and I remember the stalagtites and stalagmites being so shiny. How do they get shiny from leaking water? And how do the ones that come up out of the ground get made? Doesn't the water just run off?

Leah Eckstein

FTQA (Lee-Uh): What drives people to get into small cave crevices for fun? It’s literally my worst fear. And how do they know if there is a turn around spot once they get in there?!

Colin Rowbottom

Is it possible for a cave to extend to the center of the earth? What is the deepest cave system in the world that we know of? In the US?

Lyrebird

what is the your favourite cave creature?

The Other Maya

So much Carl Jung vibes with just the idea of "caves". Why is that? Why do we love/fear them so much and why so much allegory to the spirit world, or the dark side, or the beyond, or like portal-i-ness? Did caves put themselves in that place or did the humans? Has it always been like that or is this another side effect of drifting away from the natural world. Also cave diving: legit or adrenaline junkies?

Mona Finlayson

I would LOVE to know this ologist's thoughts and feelings about the way natural resource companies (forestry, oil and gas etc,) treat 'karst'. What do they thing is going well and they could improve upon.

Laura McLean

Have you ever seen The Descent? What’s the (hopefully UN) likelihood that a cave might be home to an unknown species?