The caves of the Black Hills are among the longest in the world, and new research shows they may also contain some of the purest water on earth.
The lakes in Wind Cave and the newly discovered bodies of water in Jewel Cave are a treasure trove for microbiologists who study the rare bacteria that have evolved in the untouched and dark underground water of the Madison Aquifer.
SDPB’s Charles Michael Ray sat down with Hazel Barton a leading cave microbiologist and her graduate student Olivia Hershey. The two are in the Black Hills this week and their ongoing research on cave microbial life could help the fight against super bugs and lend insight to life on other planets.
You can hear the full interview by clicking play below.
