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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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A deadly majestic cavern.
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Filled with razor sharp,
treacherous giant crystals.
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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Look at this.
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This is way cool, huh?
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Holy smokes.
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Are there other marvels
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that match its beauty and punishing heat?
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- I love this place.
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No matter how hard it is to work in here.
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A team of scientists and
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explorers risk their lives to find out.
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Like the little thing in
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the back of your mind saying go
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check it out, go check it out.
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They uncover
other lethal stunning caverns.
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They stumble upon an unexplored mystery
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hidden deep beneath the
surface of the Earth.
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Hey guys, I got something.
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45 degrees celsius.
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90% humidity.
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The crystal cave does not want you there.
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It will kill you in a matter of minutes.
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Yet there are people
who are willing to risk
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their lives to understand this
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breathtaking, mysterious place.
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The crystal caves, located in a
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tiny Mexican mining town called Naica.
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250 kilometers South of the US
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border in the heart of Chihuahua.
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Located 300 meters underground in
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a colossal lead mine, the crystal cave
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remained hidden for over
half a million years.
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Until it was accidentally
discovered by miners in 2000.
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Today, an organization
called The Naica Project
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studies and documents the cave.
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Lead by Gonzalo Infante, the project has
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perfected technology to
help keep explorers alive.
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They have developed specialized suits
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and respirators that help keep humans
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alive for up to 45 minutes
in the deadly heat.
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In 2008, a team of scientists and
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explorers unlocked some of its mysteries.
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I can't
imagine once we get in there.
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I can feel the temperature.
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Two years
later, another team
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has come back for one final expedition.
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- Guys, this is the entry point of this
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beautiful cave that we are about to enter.
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Only one side, breathe slowly.
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The cave can kill
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a human being in 30 minutes.
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They're required to enter without
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protective suits for just five
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minutes to test their physical
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limits in the deadly heat.
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When you feel a little
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with a blurry eyesight, or having a
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little headache, even a small headache,
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please tell me, I can take you out.
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Safety is the most important
thing in this cave.
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The team is monitored
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from Mission Control to see how they
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react in their five minute exposure test.
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- Your body is an amazing machine,
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tells you everything, listen to it.
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That's it guys.
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Everyone okay?
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All right?
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- Come on, let's go.
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Oh this is incredible!
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Can you imagine what the guys
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who discovered this must've thought?
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Wow.
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It is a visual
marvel unlike any other.
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I can't
believe how hot they are.
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It's incredible.
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Look, it's
all the way back there.
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A gigantic crystal
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cathedral created by nature, completely
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defying our understanding of
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what things on this planet look like.
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An alien world.
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Right here on Earth.
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- Wow, I love these.
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The cavern is the size of a
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football field and about as high
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as a two story building.
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Some crystals are 11 meters long
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and 55 tons, as high as telephone poles
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and 100 times as heavy.
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You know, what's amazing
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is there's no small crystals.
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All of these crystals are born big.
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The team starts at the door.
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Beyond it is what's called the forest.
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A number of upright, pillar-like crystals.
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Be careful.
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They
descend 15 meters to the
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center of the cave where there is a deep
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depression and the best
view of the entire cavern.
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I thought
that they would be all
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growing up from the
floor, but all of these
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guys in here are growing
from every surface.
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25 meters to their
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right is a sheer crystal face.
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At its top is a tiny passageway that
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will be their main objective.
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Wow, looks like ice.
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It's incredible.
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The 2008 team discovered
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a crevasse that appeared
to lead to another
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crystal cave, but fail to penetrate it.
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The new team will focus
their efforts to see
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if another majestic
cavern awaits discovery.
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- It's amazing that you can see
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they're growing in every direction.
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Apart from
the goal of discovering
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a new cave, the team
believes their expedition
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may even blaze the trail for a
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better understanding of life on Earth.
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Biologist Penny Boston is the only
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team member who was on
the 2008 expedition.
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The first trip was a wonderful
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experience to see an environment that
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was really very different from what I
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had seen before, but of course we came in
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really not knowing how to approach a lot
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of the things that we
would want to do, and so we
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got some very tantalizing
and wonderful results.
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This second trip of course is
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to build on that.
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Virologist
Curtis Suttle brings
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a team with a radical new idea.
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To find ancient viruses that
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have been trapped in the cave.
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We think that Naica,
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being quite an usual environment
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with hot, subterranean water coming out
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is quite an extreme environment.
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We're interested in the search for
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life on other planets and where they
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may exist, and so one of the things that
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we're fairly good at is finding lifeforms
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that people didn't know existed before.
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Before the scientists
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begin their work, a new secondary
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base camp will be built inside the cave.
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It is called the ice cube.
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The idea is to pump cool air into
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a tent inside the cave to lengthen
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mission time to up to two hours.
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If it works, the ice cube is the team's
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best weapon against
the cave's deadly heat.
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The scientists have learned that the
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crystal cave is not the only marvel
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buried beneath the Earth's surface.
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They will examine other
spectacular caverns in the mine.
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Seeking proof that the giant crystal
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cave is part of a larger system.
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Perhaps hundreds of
undiscovered wonders are here.
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After four minutes in the cave,
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their hearts are racing like after a
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fast sprint, but will not slow down in the
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heat as the organs scream for more oxygen.
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Sweat does not evaporate
from the skin, so they
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are literally poaching
in their own body heat.
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After about half an hour,
they would all be dead.
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- All right, I think
I've reached my limit.
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Okay guys!
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Watch your head, Victor.
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Vital signs are taken.
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If anyone gets a dangerous
reading, they can be
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banned from the cave for
the day, or for good.
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- I can feel my heart pounding in
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all the blood vessels in my face.
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I can feel...
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.
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As the explorers make their
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plans in the hottest cave
on Earth, others seek
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to find another crystal
cave from the surface.
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Marc Beverly is a climber and rescuer.
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He's brought a handpicked team of
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explorers to investigate a 600 meter
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deep hole in the desert.
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The mine calls it the robin hole.
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It's an eight foot wide ventilation
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shaft that extends to
the bottom of the mine.
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Somewhere inside may lie another crystal
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cave that no human
being has ever explored.
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In 2009, the mine drilled this
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gigantic shaft to cool
the hot tunnels below.
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A camera attached to the drill bit
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saw a cavern about 150 meters down.
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The poor video showed what
looked like a giant crystal.
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Beverly's job is to figure out a way
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to get down the robin hole to see if
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another undiscovered crystal cave awaits.
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I'm really excited to be part
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of this whole process, I know my
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team's excited to be part of this process.
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To have a first descent
and a first discovery
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of a cave that's given to you on a silver
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platter is unbelievable,
people die for this.
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It's just amazing.
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That looks good, you guys.
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Let's find a bar that fits through that.
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Some kind of a EMT pipe or something,
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we'll hang it, and then
we'll just thread it.
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From the surface the
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robin hole doesn't look all that
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impressive, but it goes 600 meters down.
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Over one and a half times deeper
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than the Empire State Building is tall.
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Any fall spells certain death.
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A surface base camp has
been set up near the shaft.
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A scientific team will
work with Beverly's crew.
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- Now these crystals,
they form out of that
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solution at a very
specific temperature range.
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00:12:44,206 --> 00:12:48,382
Sarah Poirier
is a space scientist.
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She's here to study how humans
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react in stressful environments.
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To her, studying the cave is
much like a space mission.
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We know there's
physical challenges,
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but we also really need to be aware of the
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00:13:02,566 --> 00:13:04,606
psychological challenges involved with
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putting humans in these
extreme environments,
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00:13:06,339 --> 00:13:10,823
humans are the weakest link
when we're exploring anywhere.
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- And we're gonna come from above,
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we're gonna hit the edge of the limestone,
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and then hopefully we're
going to see crystals.
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00:13:21,431 --> 00:13:23,207
Geologist Victor Torres
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00:13:23,207 --> 00:13:26,086
wants to help map the new caverns in an
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effort to determine if the
crystal cave is unique.
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The crystals in the crystal
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cave are huge, are born huge.
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00:13:36,307 --> 00:13:39,207
There's no interlacing
of a bunch of little
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crystals that grew together like normal
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geodes, this is something
collectively different.
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The unexplored cave sits at
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approximately the same
depth as the crystal cave.
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Is it possible that the
two caves are connected?
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The climbing team is
determined to find out.
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00:14:04,306 --> 00:14:08,473
a long life .
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00:14:10,995 --> 00:14:12,554
Besides this shaft and the
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00:14:12,554 --> 00:14:15,330
crystal cave, the
explorers will also examine
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smaller spectacular caverns
within the mine area.
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A cave called The Cave of Swords.
250
00:14:24,665 --> 00:14:26,748
Another, The Queen's Eye.
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00:14:28,249 --> 00:14:30,499
Finally, The Cave of Sails.
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- Need some help?
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00:14:38,579 --> 00:14:41,459
The hunt is on.
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00:14:41,459 --> 00:14:43,106
Teams above ground and below the
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00:14:43,106 --> 00:14:46,483
surface now have clear missions.
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00:14:46,483 --> 00:14:48,900
There's danger at every turn.
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There is one last twist.
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The crystal cave may soon be underwater.
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Half a million years ago,
the crystals grew from
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00:15:04,218 --> 00:15:08,218
the size of a grain of
salt to 50 ton monoliths.
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00:15:12,018 --> 00:15:13,769
They were formed under hundreds of
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00:15:13,769 --> 00:15:15,617
millions of gallons of scalding,
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00:15:15,617 --> 00:15:19,617
50 degree water heated
from volcanic intrusions.
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The same intrusions which now
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00:15:24,441 --> 00:15:26,941
give the cave its deadly heat.
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Enormous pumps built by the mine
267
00:15:31,921 --> 00:15:33,841
keep the cave dry at a rate of
268
00:15:33,841 --> 00:15:36,258
four million liters per hour.
269
00:15:39,768 --> 00:15:42,936
But in 2008, mine authorities indicated
270
00:15:42,936 --> 00:15:46,792
that they might turn those pumps off.
271
00:15:46,792 --> 00:15:47,712
- Okay, let's go.
272
00:15:47,712 --> 00:15:48,848
- Okay.
273
00:15:48,848 --> 00:15:50,168
Not only is this mission
274
00:15:50,168 --> 00:15:52,336
dangerous, it could also be humanity's
275
00:15:52,336 --> 00:15:55,964
last chance to explore
this underground marvel.
276
00:15:55,964 --> 00:15:56,900
Look at this!
277
00:15:56,900 --> 00:15:58,124
This is way cool, huh?
278
00:15:58,124 --> 00:16:00,996
Holy smokes.
279
00:16:00,996 --> 00:16:02,556
For the scientists,
280
00:16:02,556 --> 00:16:04,124
the question to unlock the cave's
281
00:16:04,124 --> 00:16:07,041
secrets is now a race against time.
282
00:16:17,828 --> 00:16:19,969
Ever since the cave was discovered,
283
00:16:19,969 --> 00:16:21,689
the Naica project team sought
284
00:16:21,689 --> 00:16:24,189
ways to lengthen mission time.
285
00:16:28,045 --> 00:16:30,405
When they first arrived in 2005,
286
00:16:30,405 --> 00:16:32,285
the was clear that the deadly heat
287
00:16:32,285 --> 00:16:35,639
made exploration all but impossible.
288
00:17:01,689 --> 00:17:03,416
They began designing suits to
289
00:17:03,416 --> 00:17:05,666
protect them from the heat.
290
00:17:15,590 --> 00:17:18,310
After years of risking trial and error,
291
00:17:18,310 --> 00:17:20,110
they discover that wearing ice
292
00:17:20,110 --> 00:17:22,766
close to the skin covered by insulated
293
00:17:22,766 --> 00:17:25,933
suits was the most effective solution.
294
00:17:41,502 --> 00:17:43,566
Respirators connected to ice filled
295
00:17:43,566 --> 00:17:46,649
backpacks send cool air to the lungs.
296
00:17:47,846 --> 00:17:49,549
- Oooh, nice.
297
00:17:49,549 --> 00:17:51,501
The masks
even protect the eyes
298
00:17:51,501 --> 00:17:55,645
as eyeballs can scorch in the cave's heat.
299
00:17:55,645 --> 00:17:58,357
- We know that in extreme condition,
300
00:17:58,357 --> 00:18:00,774
only passive system can work.
301
00:18:04,581 --> 00:18:07,741
filled of ice where there is a
302
00:18:07,741 --> 00:18:10,574
flux of air around and you breathe
303
00:18:11,829 --> 00:18:14,579
and the cool air goes on the eyes
304
00:18:15,492 --> 00:18:17,992
in order not to burn the eyes.
305
00:18:26,194 --> 00:18:27,802
Making ice in the
306
00:18:27,802 --> 00:18:29,569
scorching hot mission control room
307
00:18:29,569 --> 00:18:31,729
requires a customized freezer that
308
00:18:31,729 --> 00:18:34,146
can make ice in half an hour.
309
00:18:37,897 --> 00:18:40,623
Missions went from 10
to 15 minutes to up to
310
00:18:40,623 --> 00:18:44,290
an hour, but the suits
were bulky and heavy.
311
00:18:46,428 --> 00:18:49,928
- Here he goes, it's just like a backpack.
312
00:18:52,696 --> 00:18:53,625
- There we go.
313
00:18:53,625 --> 00:18:55,698
Over time,
designs became lighter,
314
00:18:55,698 --> 00:18:58,865
but still weighing in at 20 kilograms.
315
00:19:04,977 --> 00:19:07,727
The next problem was photography.
316
00:19:12,926 --> 00:19:15,367
Most electronic technology fails in the
317
00:19:15,367 --> 00:19:18,117
cave's extreme heat and humidity.
318
00:19:28,869 --> 00:19:33,036
Several cameras were tested,
all instantly fogged.
319
00:19:34,036 --> 00:19:36,036
And moments later, died.
320
00:19:50,832 --> 00:19:54,896
The Naica project team
found a low tech solution.
321
00:19:54,896 --> 00:19:57,016
Put the camera in a plastic bag for two
322
00:19:57,016 --> 00:20:00,349
hours inside the cave to let it heat up.
323
00:20:03,728 --> 00:20:05,935
When removed, equalized temperatures
324
00:20:05,935 --> 00:20:09,852
mean minimal humidity on
sensitive electronics.
325
00:20:11,951 --> 00:20:14,127
But even after years of experience,
326
00:20:14,127 --> 00:20:17,794
camera failures are
common and catastrophic.
327
00:20:48,605 --> 00:20:50,502
The team also developed a motion
328
00:20:50,502 --> 00:20:53,149
controlled robotic camera which takes
329
00:20:53,149 --> 00:20:54,933
thousands of stills over several
330
00:20:54,933 --> 00:20:57,516
hours to create a moving image.
331
00:21:04,949 --> 00:21:06,933
This simple device has captured
332
00:21:06,933 --> 00:21:10,748
some of the cave's most stunning images.
333
00:21:35,467 --> 00:21:37,451
The first mission on this 2009
334
00:21:37,451 --> 00:21:39,323
expedition to the giant crystal
335
00:21:39,323 --> 00:21:41,843
cave is to explore the mysterious
336
00:21:41,843 --> 00:21:44,163
crevasse that has proven to be
337
00:21:44,163 --> 00:21:46,913
the cavern's most deadly impasse.
338
00:21:49,922 --> 00:21:54,089
Explorers believe it may
lead to another crystal cave.
339
00:22:00,018 --> 00:22:02,538
This crevasse also nearly took the life
340
00:22:02,538 --> 00:22:05,871
of one of the original team's explorers.
341
00:22:08,186 --> 00:22:11,010
In 2006, Tullio Bernabei entered
342
00:22:11,010 --> 00:22:13,033
the cave with a cameraman to test
343
00:22:13,033 --> 00:22:15,200
the suits and respirators.
344
00:22:18,577 --> 00:22:20,681
As the two explore the cave, Tullio
345
00:22:20,681 --> 00:22:23,058
decided to cross an impasse by himself
346
00:22:23,058 --> 00:22:25,391
to investigate the crevasse.
347
00:22:35,585 --> 00:22:39,752
He saw that the cave kept
going, so he went in further.
348
00:22:41,992 --> 00:22:43,075
Much further.
349
00:22:53,624 --> 00:22:57,791
When it was time to head
back, his respirator failed.
350
00:23:01,264 --> 00:23:03,336
He was on his own.
351
00:23:03,336 --> 00:23:06,086
No one could see him in the cave.
352
00:23:25,449 --> 00:23:28,001
Without any cool air to breathe, Bernabei
353
00:23:28,001 --> 00:23:29,521
didn't know if he could make the
354
00:23:29,521 --> 00:23:32,521
30 meters back to the cave entrance.
355
00:24:26,888 --> 00:24:29,320
He stumbled back to the cave entrance,
356
00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:32,568
his brain nearly failing,
his heart nearing
357
00:24:32,568 --> 00:24:35,818
cardiac arrest from the punishing heat.
358
00:25:05,637 --> 00:25:08,804
Bernabei barely escaped with his life.
359
00:25:12,575 --> 00:25:14,685
This time, Naica project caver
360
00:25:14,685 --> 00:25:16,965
Mario Corsolini will explore the same
361
00:25:16,965 --> 00:25:20,565
crevasse that nearly killed Bernabei.
362
00:25:20,565 --> 00:25:22,333
In his protective suit, he will have
363
00:25:22,333 --> 00:25:25,500
45 minutes before his life is at risk.
364
00:25:28,373 --> 00:25:30,828
To study the deadly
passageway, the technical
365
00:25:30,828 --> 00:25:34,644
team has created a remote camera arm.
366
00:25:50,434 --> 00:25:53,851
It can look in places human beings can't.
367
00:25:54,930 --> 00:25:56,642
And send high definition images
368
00:25:56,642 --> 00:25:59,725
back to mission control for analysis.
369
00:26:02,806 --> 00:26:06,214
Corsolini makes his way to the crevasse.
370
00:26:06,214 --> 00:26:07,990
It takes about five minutes for
371
00:26:07,990 --> 00:26:10,165
the experienced caver to climb the sheer
372
00:26:10,165 --> 00:26:13,765
crystal of the upper reaches of the cave.
373
00:26:13,765 --> 00:26:15,677
In a deadly place that is furthest
374
00:26:15,677 --> 00:26:18,094
from the entrance and rescue.
375
00:26:23,165 --> 00:26:26,901
The opening here looks
like a shark's mouth.
376
00:26:26,901 --> 00:26:29,845
Beyond it, a world only seen by a handful
377
00:26:29,845 --> 00:26:32,928
of daring explorers and never filmed.
378
00:26:44,501 --> 00:26:46,419
Corsolini steps into a dazzling
379
00:26:46,419 --> 00:26:49,836
corridor lined with razor sharp crystals.
380
00:26:52,661 --> 00:26:55,661
It's a disorienting maze-like place.
381
00:26:56,725 --> 00:26:57,629
All jagged.
382
00:26:57,629 --> 00:26:58,462
Yes.
383
00:26:58,462 --> 00:26:59,741
They'll chew you up.
384
00:26:59,741 --> 00:27:02,044
They'll chew you up good.
385
00:27:02,044 --> 00:27:05,236
But it
appears to be a tunnel.
386
00:27:05,236 --> 00:27:07,172
He explores a series of tiny
387
00:27:07,172 --> 00:27:10,005
passageways seeing another cavern.
388
00:27:14,083 --> 00:27:16,387
The tunnel is five meters long,
389
00:27:16,387 --> 00:27:19,970
two meters across, and
lined with crystals.
390
00:27:21,835 --> 00:27:24,595
At its end is a wall of
crystals, that if it can
391
00:27:24,595 --> 00:27:28,262
be climbed, appears to
lead to a black void.
392
00:27:29,923 --> 00:27:31,006
Another cave?
393
00:27:34,155 --> 00:27:36,986
Scientists Victor Torres and Sarah Poirier
394
00:27:36,986 --> 00:27:39,706
want to explore the new passageway
395
00:27:39,706 --> 00:27:43,410
and test the limits of their equipment.
396
00:28:00,098 --> 00:28:01,362
Sarah, come over here,
397
00:28:01,362 --> 00:28:03,275
grab this one with your left hand.
398
00:28:03,275 --> 00:28:04,858
Come up, foot here.
399
00:28:06,542 --> 00:28:07,975
Yup.
400
00:28:07,975 --> 00:28:10,350
And then here.
401
00:28:10,350 --> 00:28:11,975
They discover just how
402
00:28:11,975 --> 00:28:15,086
treacherous the climb to the crevasse is.
403
00:28:15,086 --> 00:28:16,830
It's an obstacle course of jagged
404
00:28:16,830 --> 00:28:19,566
crystals that can cut through skin.
405
00:28:19,566 --> 00:28:21,918
This end here, up.
406
00:28:21,918 --> 00:28:23,534
Broken and uneven crystals
407
00:28:23,534 --> 00:28:25,686
on the cave floor means moving in
408
00:28:25,686 --> 00:28:29,661
the heavy suits is all but impossible.
409
00:28:29,661 --> 00:28:30,725
Good job.
410
00:28:30,725 --> 00:28:31,558
In here?
411
00:28:31,558 --> 00:28:35,158
Right up here, there, yeah.
412
00:28:35,158 --> 00:28:36,287
.
413
00:28:36,287 --> 00:28:37,632
Up here.
414
00:28:37,632 --> 00:28:41,163
Finally the
scientists reach the crevasse.
415
00:28:41,163 --> 00:28:45,299
Hotter than The Sahara,
more humid than The Amazon.
416
00:28:45,299 --> 00:28:49,459
A deadly combination
unlike any place on Earth.
417
00:28:49,459 --> 00:28:54,011
50 degrees celsius and humidity near 100%.
418
00:28:54,011 --> 00:28:56,023
Wow, oh my God, look at this!
419
00:28:56,023 --> 00:28:57,529
This is way cool, huh?
420
00:28:57,529 --> 00:28:59,362
Holy smokes.
421
00:29:02,689 --> 00:29:05,688
Corsolini
is all but exhausted.
422
00:29:05,688 --> 00:29:07,696
Physical movement in this heat wearing a
423
00:29:07,696 --> 00:29:11,196
20 kilogram suit is all his body can bear.
424
00:29:13,888 --> 00:29:17,104
They can last just minutes longer.
425
00:29:17,104 --> 00:29:18,728
Just long enough to get a sense
426
00:29:18,728 --> 00:29:21,016
of an unexplored visual marvel
427
00:29:21,016 --> 00:29:23,224
that may well be the passageway
428
00:29:23,224 --> 00:29:25,224
to another crystal cave.
429
00:29:28,569 --> 00:29:30,176
It appears to go on for about
430
00:29:30,176 --> 00:29:32,759
five meters, and then opens up.
431
00:29:34,143 --> 00:29:35,143
But to what?
432
00:29:40,571 --> 00:29:42,947
Sarah, we need to go now.
433
00:29:42,947 --> 00:29:44,426
Time is up.
434
00:29:44,426 --> 00:29:46,154
The three explorers must now make
435
00:29:46,154 --> 00:29:49,251
their way back to the control room.
436
00:29:49,251 --> 00:29:50,282
- Gonna go this way, okay?
437
00:29:50,282 --> 00:29:51,115
Yup.
438
00:29:51,115 --> 00:29:52,258
- Foot here, move that way.
439
00:29:52,258 --> 00:29:53,091
Yup.
440
00:29:53,091 --> 00:29:54,770
- Then foot here.
441
00:29:54,770 --> 00:29:57,074
They learn
an important lesson.
442
00:29:57,074 --> 00:29:58,730
To get to the crevasse, you have to
443
00:29:58,730 --> 00:30:01,626
reserve enough energy to get back down.
444
00:30:01,626 --> 00:30:02,722
- Can I take your hand?
445
00:30:02,722 --> 00:30:04,114
Close.
446
00:30:04,114 --> 00:30:05,210
Move now.
447
00:30:05,210 --> 00:30:06,778
Yup.
448
00:30:06,778 --> 00:30:09,842
The door
is just 30 meters away.
449
00:30:09,842 --> 00:30:11,817
It might as well be 500.
450
00:30:24,628 --> 00:30:25,801
- I'm good.
451
00:30:25,801 --> 00:30:27,041
It's a little hard to breathe
452
00:30:27,041 --> 00:30:29,541
right now, but it's all right.
453
00:30:33,968 --> 00:30:35,102
You okay?
454
00:30:35,102 --> 00:30:37,129
- Yeah, I'm okay, I'm glad I'm out though.
455
00:30:37,129 --> 00:30:39,601
I think it was at the
right time, another minute
456
00:30:39,601 --> 00:30:42,851
or two I would've been having problems.
457
00:30:43,897 --> 00:30:45,337
In mission control,
458
00:30:45,337 --> 00:30:49,846
Sarah Poirier's vital signs
are closely monitored.
459
00:30:49,846 --> 00:30:52,415
She's been pushed to the physical limit.
460
00:30:52,415 --> 00:30:54,005
- Can we get a cold glass of water?
461
00:30:54,005 --> 00:30:56,369
Here.
462
00:30:56,369 --> 00:30:58,721
- Sarah, go slow with this, okay?
463
00:30:58,721 --> 00:31:00,065
But she's seen with her
464
00:31:00,065 --> 00:31:03,065
own eyes what the team
came here to determine.
465
00:31:03,065 --> 00:31:04,377
- Let's walk back there slowly,
466
00:31:04,377 --> 00:31:05,577
if you feel dizzy, just hold on.
467
00:31:05,577 --> 00:31:07,561
.
468
00:31:07,561 --> 00:31:08,394
Thank you.
469
00:31:09,681 --> 00:31:12,233
There's a tunnel up there.
470
00:31:12,233 --> 00:31:16,400
Where it goes is the next
deadly mystery to solve.
471
00:31:25,614 --> 00:31:27,782
Inside the crystal cave, Victor Torres
472
00:31:27,782 --> 00:31:30,118
decides to be the first to experiment
473
00:31:30,118 --> 00:31:32,035
with the ice cube tent.
474
00:31:36,966 --> 00:31:40,216
Cool air is being pumped into the tent.
475
00:31:41,801 --> 00:31:43,488
The tech team estimated that it
476
00:31:43,488 --> 00:31:46,736
should be about 35 degrees celsius.
477
00:31:46,736 --> 00:31:48,776
Not exactly chilly, but lower than the
478
00:31:48,776 --> 00:31:51,943
body's core temperature of 37 degrees.
479
00:32:01,325 --> 00:32:04,784
But the ice cube isn't cooling down much.
480
00:32:04,784 --> 00:32:06,832
Torres can feel a difference, but not
481
00:32:06,832 --> 00:32:08,460
enough to bring his overheated
482
00:32:08,460 --> 00:32:10,543
body back to safe levels.
483
00:32:14,266 --> 00:32:17,951
For now, the ice cube is off limits.
484
00:32:36,498 --> 00:32:38,466
Two years before this mission,
485
00:32:38,466 --> 00:32:40,281
another team of scientists examin
486
00:32:40,281 --> 00:32:42,129
the crystals to determine what they
487
00:32:42,129 --> 00:32:45,212
are made of and how they grew so big.
488
00:32:50,029 --> 00:32:52,661
These stunning pillars are made of gypsum,
489
00:32:52,661 --> 00:32:55,578
the same mineral as common drywall.
490
00:32:56,413 --> 00:33:00,973
But there's nothing common
about these crystals.
491
00:33:00,973 --> 00:33:05,972
They are five times larger
than any previously discovered.
492
00:33:05,972 --> 00:33:09,004
Gypsum takes a long time
to grow into crystals
493
00:33:09,004 --> 00:33:13,444
and needs constant
conditions of water and heat.
494
00:33:13,444 --> 00:33:15,755
The crystal cave was
underwater for half a million
495
00:33:15,755 --> 00:33:19,755
years until it was
discovered by miners in 2000.
496
00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:26,888
The water trapped in the
cave was rich with gypsum.
497
00:33:26,888 --> 00:33:31,415
The gypsum clung to the
cave walls and floor.
498
00:33:31,415 --> 00:33:35,248
Growing over time into
the giant crystal cave.
499
00:33:38,307 --> 00:33:40,148
But the mystery remains whether this
500
00:33:40,148 --> 00:33:42,481
geological marvel is unique.
501
00:33:44,875 --> 00:33:47,131
The scientists seek evidence that the
502
00:33:47,131 --> 00:33:49,035
conditions may have been right for
503
00:33:49,035 --> 00:33:51,419
other crystal caves to grow in this
504
00:33:51,419 --> 00:33:54,919
cauldron buried beneath a Mexican dessert.
505
00:34:03,877 --> 00:34:06,277
As the explorers finish the first stage
506
00:34:06,277 --> 00:34:08,517
of their mission, Penny Boston and
507
00:34:08,517 --> 00:34:11,245
colleague Mike Spildee ready for their own
508
00:34:11,245 --> 00:34:15,245
treacherous venture into
the cave's deadly heat.
509
00:34:16,701 --> 00:34:18,349
Boston is looking for life where
510
00:34:18,349 --> 00:34:22,099
no one would ever suspect
life could survive.
511
00:34:25,028 --> 00:34:27,044
One of the big surprises of
512
00:34:27,044 --> 00:34:29,564
all of science really over the last
513
00:34:29,564 --> 00:34:31,892
20 or 30 years is just how much life
514
00:34:31,892 --> 00:34:34,884
there actually is in the subsurface.
515
00:34:34,884 --> 00:34:36,669
What we're finding as a community
516
00:34:36,669 --> 00:34:38,580
is that when we go into places
517
00:34:38,580 --> 00:34:41,588
like Niaca or other deep environments,
518
00:34:41,588 --> 00:34:43,835
whether they be mines or natural caves,
519
00:34:43,835 --> 00:34:46,099
we're finding an astonishing array
520
00:34:46,099 --> 00:34:48,653
of different kinds of microorganisms.
521
00:34:48,653 --> 00:34:50,636
They have a lot to tell us about the
522
00:34:50,636 --> 00:34:54,219
origin and evolution
of life on the planet.
523
00:34:57,139 --> 00:34:59,347
In 2008, Boston found
524
00:34:59,347 --> 00:35:02,627
bacteria trapped in fluid
inclusions, tiny air
525
00:35:02,627 --> 00:35:07,483
pockets that formed when
the crystals were growing.
526
00:35:07,483 --> 00:35:11,650
She reanimated the bacteria,
brought them back to life.
527
00:35:12,555 --> 00:35:17,187
They were unlike anything
else ever seen on Earth.
528
00:35:17,187 --> 00:35:19,226
Her work sheds light on the existence
529
00:35:19,226 --> 00:35:21,309
of life on other planets.
530
00:35:23,674 --> 00:35:25,962
So these are
low nutrient environments
531
00:35:25,962 --> 00:35:29,586
and we're interested in
the kinds of organisms
532
00:35:29,586 --> 00:35:32,146
that can actually make their living not
533
00:35:32,146 --> 00:35:34,554
using organic materials
like you and I eat,
534
00:35:34,554 --> 00:35:39,082
but chewing through
bedrock and using inorganic
535
00:35:39,082 --> 00:35:42,499
mineral compounds as their energy source.
536
00:35:44,426 --> 00:35:45,970
Just keep it down like that when
537
00:35:45,970 --> 00:35:48,781
you pull it out, then we'll light it.
538
00:35:48,781 --> 00:35:50,673
It put my drill on
fire, that can't be good.
539
00:35:50,673 --> 00:35:52,130
Flaming drill.
540
00:35:52,130 --> 00:35:54,242
Now she's trying again.
541
00:35:54,242 --> 00:35:56,322
This time she wants to sample deeper
542
00:35:56,322 --> 00:35:59,058
from a crystal with the aim to retrieve
543
00:35:59,058 --> 00:36:02,391
a more complete sample of bacterial DNA.
544
00:36:04,258 --> 00:36:05,722
What do you think?
545
00:36:05,722 --> 00:36:07,210
Yeah, let's go for it.
546
00:36:07,210 --> 00:36:08,517
- I think so.
547
00:36:08,517 --> 00:36:10,093
The crystals are soft
548
00:36:10,093 --> 00:36:13,821
as human fingernails, so easy to drill.
549
00:36:13,821 --> 00:36:15,677
But that same softness can make it
550
00:36:15,677 --> 00:36:17,701
hard to reach a fluid inclusion
551
00:36:17,701 --> 00:36:19,784
without contaminating it.
552
00:36:20,972 --> 00:36:24,205
- I can see water coming up into it.
553
00:36:24,205 --> 00:36:25,038
Good.
554
00:36:25,038 --> 00:36:26,084
Thing was a juicy one.
555
00:36:26,084 --> 00:36:27,332
Good, this may work.
556
00:36:27,332 --> 00:36:28,900
- All right, we're off.
557
00:36:28,900 --> 00:36:31,817
The clock is ticking.
558
00:36:34,439 --> 00:36:35,856
Finally, success.
559
00:36:36,775 --> 00:36:38,358
- Perfect, love it.
560
00:36:39,671 --> 00:36:40,831
The team makes their
561
00:36:40,831 --> 00:36:42,631
way back towards mission control,
562
00:36:42,631 --> 00:36:44,535
but it's clear Penny Boston has
563
00:36:44,535 --> 00:36:47,599
pushed herself to the brink.
564
00:36:47,599 --> 00:36:49,152
.
565
00:36:49,152 --> 00:36:52,152
At first she seems okay.
566
00:36:52,152 --> 00:36:55,927
We just pushed
with a sterile .
567
00:36:55,927 --> 00:36:58,703
We couldn't get the lighters to work.
568
00:36:58,703 --> 00:37:00,227
We rubbed it off on crystal and then
569
00:37:00,227 --> 00:37:03,964
got a flame.
570
00:37:03,964 --> 00:37:05,538
We sterilized it, I thought we
571
00:37:05,538 --> 00:37:07,835
were gonna have to come back out.
572
00:37:07,835 --> 00:37:09,668
I was nearly in tears.
573
00:37:11,331 --> 00:37:14,764
It was a complete failure.
574
00:37:14,764 --> 00:37:16,597
Trying to get it open.
575
00:37:17,881 --> 00:37:20,417
send you over the edge?
576
00:37:20,417 --> 00:37:23,000
Yeah.
577
00:37:34,972 --> 00:37:36,504
Penny Boston is the
578
00:37:36,504 --> 00:37:39,608
team's most experienced caver.
579
00:37:39,608 --> 00:37:42,364
It's a sobering lesson for the others
580
00:37:42,364 --> 00:37:44,138
who are beginning to understand the deadly
581
00:37:44,138 --> 00:37:47,555
risks of exploring this unforgiving cave.
582
00:37:48,466 --> 00:37:51,966
- I shouldn't cry more, I'm wasting fluid.
583
00:37:53,802 --> 00:37:57,377
The real
dangers still lie ahead.
584
00:38:06,076 --> 00:38:07,748
The crystal cave is in the center of
585
00:38:07,748 --> 00:38:09,884
Chihuahua, a vast desert plateau
586
00:38:09,884 --> 00:38:12,301
South at the border of Texas.
587
00:38:15,874 --> 00:38:19,291
Naica is a tiny, isolated dot on the map.
588
00:38:24,138 --> 00:38:28,153
Naica produces lead, copper, and silver.
589
00:38:28,153 --> 00:38:30,903
About 5,000 people live in Naica.
590
00:38:32,193 --> 00:38:35,610
The entire economy is driven by the mine.
591
00:38:37,001 --> 00:38:39,668
And has been for over 100 years.
592
00:38:47,841 --> 00:38:50,185
At the beginning of the 20th century,
593
00:38:50,185 --> 00:38:53,272
100 years before the
crystal cave was discovered,
594
00:38:53,272 --> 00:38:55,952
another cavern in this mine complex
595
00:38:55,952 --> 00:38:58,288
produced remarkable crystals that
596
00:38:58,288 --> 00:39:01,205
now adorn museums around the world.
597
00:39:02,784 --> 00:39:05,951
The cave is called The Cave of Swords.
598
00:39:08,952 --> 00:39:12,096
Discovered in 1910, The
Cave of Swords is located
599
00:39:12,096 --> 00:39:16,096
closer to the mine entrance
at about 120 meters.
600
00:39:17,703 --> 00:39:21,870
Compared with the much deeper
crystal cave at 300 meters.
601
00:39:23,567 --> 00:39:25,525
Its names comes from the unique
602
00:39:25,525 --> 00:39:28,775
dagger-like crystals on the cave walls.
603
00:39:29,717 --> 00:39:33,884
These crystals are also
selenite, or common gypsum.
604
00:39:36,020 --> 00:39:40,716
But there is nothing else like
them anywhere in the world.
605
00:39:40,716 --> 00:39:43,340
They too grew underwater, but this
606
00:39:43,340 --> 00:39:45,673
cave was not always flooded.
607
00:39:46,900 --> 00:39:49,204
The scientists believe
the water here rose and
608
00:39:49,204 --> 00:39:52,621
fell over hundreds of thousands of years.
609
00:39:54,139 --> 00:39:55,979
So the crystal did not grow as
610
00:39:55,979 --> 00:39:58,896
large as those in the crystal cave.
611
00:40:22,796 --> 00:40:26,963
These crystals also formed
underwater under tremendous heat.
612
00:40:29,996 --> 00:40:32,460
This cave produced a
beauty quite unlike that
613
00:40:32,460 --> 00:40:36,636
of the crystal cave,
and on a smaller scale.
614
00:40:36,636 --> 00:40:38,828
The Cave of Swords is a tantalizing clue
615
00:40:38,828 --> 00:40:41,364
that there may be more
caves to discover with
616
00:40:41,364 --> 00:40:45,531
entirely different formations
that defy comparison.
617
00:40:50,107 --> 00:40:51,740
And that's exactly what a team
618
00:40:51,740 --> 00:40:54,356
of climbers seek to find out a
619
00:40:54,356 --> 00:40:56,856
kilometer away on the surface.
620
00:40:57,891 --> 00:40:59,803
Naica project climber and rescuer
621
00:40:59,803 --> 00:41:02,379
Marc Beverly now prepares to see
622
00:41:02,379 --> 00:41:05,331
what marvels may await him on
623
00:41:05,331 --> 00:41:08,164
a daring descent into the unknown.
624
00:41:10,819 --> 00:41:12,787
It's a perfectly straight ventilation
625
00:41:12,787 --> 00:41:15,800
shaft called a robin hole that drops
626
00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:18,717
600 meters to the bottom of a mine.
627
00:41:21,573 --> 00:41:24,823
A cave has been detected at 150 meters.
628
00:41:26,373 --> 00:41:30,540
A drop equivalent to climbing
down a 50 story skyscraper.
629
00:41:37,597 --> 00:41:39,989
I think that's good.
630
00:41:39,989 --> 00:41:41,397
Swivel just a tad 'cause I gotta
631
00:41:41,397 --> 00:41:43,421
move this leg off the steel.
632
00:41:43,421 --> 00:41:44,901
A tripod feeds all the
633
00:41:44,901 --> 00:41:48,989
ropes to the bottom for climbers and gear.
634
00:41:48,989 --> 00:41:51,656
Is climbing down worth the risk?
635
00:41:53,572 --> 00:41:56,739
Another team is here to help find out.
636
00:41:58,364 --> 00:42:00,676
They're engineers conducting a survey
637
00:42:00,676 --> 00:42:04,343
with a technique called
geoelectric mapping.
638
00:42:05,260 --> 00:42:06,932
Step one is laying electrodes in
639
00:42:06,932 --> 00:42:09,682
the ground around the robin hole.
640
00:42:11,534 --> 00:42:13,380
- So geoelectric mapping, you're using
641
00:42:13,380 --> 00:42:16,015
an electric current to
create a three dimensional
642
00:42:16,015 --> 00:42:19,373
map of the structure that's beneath us?
643
00:42:19,373 --> 00:42:22,127
- What we do is we pound input of
644
00:42:22,127 --> 00:42:25,656
direct current into the subsurface.
645
00:42:29,776 --> 00:42:31,743
Through these electrodes that they
646
00:42:31,743 --> 00:42:33,440
drop into the ground and they
647
00:42:33,440 --> 00:42:36,577
are separated given to measurement.
648
00:42:43,880 --> 00:42:46,168
Okay, so he calculates according
649
00:42:46,168 --> 00:42:47,936
to the type of rock and how deep he
650
00:42:47,936 --> 00:42:50,714
wants to go into the survey, he calculates
651
00:42:50,714 --> 00:42:54,087
the distance between the electrodes.
652
00:42:54,087 --> 00:42:57,544
Cables are
strung between the electrodes.
653
00:42:57,544 --> 00:43:01,627
An electric current is
charged through the cable.
654
00:43:03,624 --> 00:43:05,327
The result will be a three dimensional
655
00:43:05,327 --> 00:43:08,631
image of the underground area.
656
00:43:08,631 --> 00:43:12,631
If there is a cave here,
the map should show it.
657
00:43:14,047 --> 00:43:17,383
It will take a day to get results.
658
00:43:17,383 --> 00:43:19,111
In the meantime, Marc Beverly will
659
00:43:19,111 --> 00:43:21,359
take the direct approach to drop down
660
00:43:21,359 --> 00:43:24,839
a rope 50 stories alone, in pitch black,
661
00:43:24,839 --> 00:43:28,922
with no chance of rescue
if something goes wrong.
662
00:43:32,073 --> 00:43:33,753
It's not
gonna change, right?
663
00:43:33,753 --> 00:43:35,253
- No, that's fine.
664
00:43:36,113 --> 00:43:38,329
Loose
rock, even small pebbles,
665
00:43:38,329 --> 00:43:42,993
turn into lethal projectiles
if they fall on his descent.
666
00:43:42,993 --> 00:43:47,721
So that's an
adjustable for you.
667
00:43:47,721 --> 00:43:49,480
Once in
the cave, there's no way
668
00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:51,048
no way of knowing whether the floor will
669
00:43:51,048 --> 00:43:54,800
collapse or if the air is poisonous.
670
00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:57,720
No human has ever been there.
671
00:43:57,720 --> 00:44:01,553
It's a straight down
descent into the unknown.
672
00:44:07,240 --> 00:44:09,679
A custom made single rope can hold up
673
00:44:09,679 --> 00:44:13,407
to two and a half tons
of climbers and gear.
674
00:44:13,407 --> 00:44:14,711
You can just take that whole
675
00:44:14,711 --> 00:44:17,159
carabiner out, think you can do it.
676
00:44:17,159 --> 00:44:18,511
The linchpin is a winch
677
00:44:18,511 --> 00:44:20,844
attached to Beverly's truck.
678
00:44:21,879 --> 00:44:23,943
Built for loggers to move trees,
679
00:44:23,943 --> 00:44:25,599
climbers will be raised and lowered
680
00:44:25,599 --> 00:44:28,099
by this small, powerful winch.
681
00:44:30,631 --> 00:44:34,111
- We got good communications
with our crew down below.
682
00:44:34,111 --> 00:44:35,774
I'm feeding the rope, but I have a
683
00:44:35,774 --> 00:44:37,890
hands free device right here which
684
00:44:37,890 --> 00:44:40,226
is, if something happened to me,
685
00:44:40,226 --> 00:44:43,270
if I just pass out, I'm obviously
686
00:44:43,270 --> 00:44:45,221
lowering him with one hand, but if I
687
00:44:45,221 --> 00:44:47,704
let go, then this would catch them.
688
00:44:47,704 --> 00:44:49,512
We got a special carabiner that's made
689
00:44:49,512 --> 00:44:50,848
so that if it gets cross loaded
690
00:44:50,848 --> 00:44:53,056
it's not gonna break in any situation.
691
00:44:53,056 --> 00:44:54,936
If you can imagine putting 27 of
692
00:44:54,936 --> 00:44:56,719
me on this one rope, that's about
693
00:44:56,719 --> 00:44:58,588
what this rope would hold as a
694
00:44:58,588 --> 00:45:01,800
minimum breaking strength, so that's
695
00:45:01,800 --> 00:45:04,967
a pretty good, strong rope right here.
696
00:45:07,543 --> 00:45:11,719
The time has
come for a first attempt.
697
00:45:11,719 --> 00:45:13,783
Beverly will wear a high definition helmet
698
00:45:13,783 --> 00:45:17,950
camera to provide real
time images to the surface.
699
00:45:19,175 --> 00:45:20,167
- All right, great.
700
00:45:20,167 --> 00:45:22,111
- We still have minicam on top of it
701
00:45:22,111 --> 00:45:26,519
so we can see whatever's
going on with you.
702
00:45:26,519 --> 00:45:27,718
Marc, put the helmet on,
703
00:45:27,718 --> 00:45:30,635
don't worry about the rest of that.
704
00:45:31,534 --> 00:45:33,617
Time to go.
705
00:45:39,086 --> 00:45:40,086
- All right.
706
00:45:41,966 --> 00:45:45,548
Fully weight this system, lower out.
707
00:45:45,548 --> 00:45:47,197
A custom made single rope
708
00:45:47,197 --> 00:45:50,388
can hold up to two and a half tons.
709
00:45:50,388 --> 00:45:52,524
- Good test, let's see how it goes.
710
00:45:52,524 --> 00:45:53,908
But if it fails,
711
00:45:53,908 --> 00:45:57,158
it's a 600 meter drop to certain death.
712
00:45:59,548 --> 00:46:01,444
It will take 10 minutes for Beverly
713
00:46:01,444 --> 00:46:04,500
to drop to 150 meters, the level
714
00:46:04,500 --> 00:46:07,250
where an unexplored caved awaits.
715
00:46:12,548 --> 00:46:15,355
His descent is monitored from the surface.
716
00:46:15,355 --> 00:46:16,859
60 meters.
717
00:46:16,859 --> 00:46:18,859
60 meters.
718
00:46:22,259 --> 00:46:25,009
The camera's working pretty good.
719
00:46:27,091 --> 00:46:28,875
By dropping
straight down the
720
00:46:28,875 --> 00:46:30,786
middle of the hole, Beverly hopes to
721
00:46:30,786 --> 00:46:33,154
avoid cutting the rope on sharp edges,
722
00:46:33,154 --> 00:46:36,321
an accident that he would not survive.
723
00:46:38,531 --> 00:46:41,154
Woo hoo hoo hoo hoo!
724
00:46:41,154 --> 00:46:43,242
Big drop, big hole!
725
00:46:43,242 --> 00:46:44,742
100.
726
00:46:47,562 --> 00:46:48,395
110.
727
00:46:49,731 --> 00:46:52,650
Beverly is now approaching his target.
728
00:46:52,650 --> 00:46:56,400
Here comes
another marker, 110.
729
00:46:59,850 --> 00:47:00,683
No, no!
730
00:47:01,690 --> 00:47:03,714
At the moment of discovery,
731
00:47:03,714 --> 00:47:06,665
the signal to the surface is lost.
732
00:47:06,665 --> 00:47:08,513
- Hey Marc, Justin.
733
00:47:08,513 --> 00:47:09,513
Radio check.
734
00:47:20,219 --> 00:47:21,886
Roger that.
735
00:47:24,925 --> 00:47:27,894
All right, what do we got here?
736
00:47:27,894 --> 00:47:31,725
We got a bit of a, we got a bit of a jog.
737
00:47:31,725 --> 00:47:34,558
Looks like cave possibility maybe.
738
00:47:45,973 --> 00:47:46,806
Hey guys.
739
00:47:49,484 --> 00:47:51,412
Go ahead, Marc.
740
00:47:51,412 --> 00:47:52,740
I got something.
741
00:47:52,740 --> 00:47:55,252
- All right, let us know, sir.
742
00:47:55,252 --> 00:47:59,092
, it's a cave.
743
00:47:59,092 --> 00:48:00,580
Beverly is met with a
744
00:48:00,580 --> 00:48:04,084
blast of heat that
immediately fogs the lens.
745
00:48:04,084 --> 00:48:05,452
It's a steam bath if
746
00:48:05,452 --> 00:48:08,452
you go one foot outside of the hole.
747
00:48:09,540 --> 00:48:10,924
The robin hole is an
748
00:48:10,924 --> 00:48:14,075
air shaft designed to cool the mine.
749
00:48:14,075 --> 00:48:18,075
No one had anticipated
the cave would be so hot.
750
00:48:22,179 --> 00:48:24,459
He clears the lens and keeps it from
751
00:48:24,459 --> 00:48:27,427
fogging by staying in the cool tunnel.
752
00:48:27,427 --> 00:48:28,819
It's amazing.
753
00:48:28,819 --> 00:48:32,435
I poke my head marginally
outside of this hole
754
00:48:32,435 --> 00:48:35,852
and into the cave and it's extremely hot.
755
00:48:37,419 --> 00:48:40,115
What's your definition of hot?
756
00:48:40,115 --> 00:48:42,532
Like wow, it's warm.
757
00:48:43,555 --> 00:48:45,305
Copy that.
758
00:48:47,228 --> 00:48:48,834
So check this out, so as soon
759
00:48:48,834 --> 00:48:51,354
as I grabbed the first stone, it felt
760
00:48:51,354 --> 00:48:54,604
like it was radioactive, it was so hot.
761
00:48:57,202 --> 00:48:59,226
I don't know how far this pocket goes,
762
00:48:59,226 --> 00:49:00,730
it looks like it's about a 20 degree
763
00:49:00,730 --> 00:49:04,090
angle off axis from horizontal.
764
00:49:04,090 --> 00:49:06,340
I'm gonna continue on down.
765
00:49:09,906 --> 00:49:12,561
Beverly
detaches from the rope.
766
00:49:12,561 --> 00:49:15,311
From here on in, he's on his own.
767
00:49:28,396 --> 00:49:31,896
See that pull up on your light?
768
00:49:32,820 --> 00:49:36,645
There's no way
of knowing what he is seeing.
769
00:49:36,645 --> 00:49:40,812
No way of knowing whether he
is trapped or even killed.
770
00:49:46,348 --> 00:49:49,397
Oh come on, come on.
771
00:50:08,407 --> 00:50:11,990
Finally,
a signal from below.
772
00:50:12,861 --> 00:50:14,980
Up we go.
773
00:50:14,980 --> 00:50:15,813
All right.
774
00:50:17,596 --> 00:50:19,846
Look at that, that's sweet.
775
00:50:21,788 --> 00:50:23,419
And the long wait as
776
00:50:23,419 --> 00:50:25,179
the winch pulls Marc the length of
777
00:50:25,179 --> 00:50:27,929
a city skyscraper to the surface.
778
00:50:32,468 --> 00:50:36,075
An anxious team waits to
find out what he's seen.
779
00:50:36,075 --> 00:50:37,825
10 meters!
780
00:50:42,035 --> 00:50:43,532
Woo hoo hoo hoo!
781
00:50:43,532 --> 00:50:45,676
.
782
00:50:45,676 --> 00:50:47,294
- Hey man.
783
00:50:47,294 --> 00:50:50,427
Yeah buddy,
that's freakin' awesome.
784
00:50:50,427 --> 00:50:54,344
Three feet, two feet,
one foot, stop, all stop.
785
00:50:58,022 --> 00:50:59,439
- Woohoo!
786
00:50:59,439 --> 00:51:02,485
That's what I'm talking about!
787
00:51:02,485 --> 00:51:03,318
Exactly.
788
00:51:06,629 --> 00:51:07,546
Right here.
789
00:51:08,533 --> 00:51:09,725
Wow.
790
00:51:09,725 --> 00:51:10,885
- How you doing, buddy?
791
00:51:10,885 --> 00:51:12,317
- Awesome.
792
00:51:12,317 --> 00:51:14,164
There's a small cave in there, yeah.
793
00:51:14,164 --> 00:51:16,237
It's about, I don't know, a meter and
794
00:51:16,237 --> 00:51:18,797
a half high and then it just goes
795
00:51:18,797 --> 00:51:21,252
back and you can't see the end.
796
00:51:21,252 --> 00:51:23,276
- There were actually
crystals with the facets
797
00:51:23,276 --> 00:51:27,189
that you could see, even tiny ones, or...
798
00:51:27,189 --> 00:51:28,740
- There's some tiny ones in there,
799
00:51:28,740 --> 00:51:31,396
they're small, you can see them up
800
00:51:31,396 --> 00:51:32,876
on the ceiling like maybe they were
801
00:51:32,876 --> 00:51:36,793
forming, but nothing like
Crystalis or Espadas.
802
00:51:38,140 --> 00:51:39,788
- Like the big big ones then.
803
00:51:39,788 --> 00:51:41,073
- No, I didn't see them, but that
804
00:51:41,073 --> 00:51:42,556
doesn't mean they couldn't be around the
805
00:51:42,556 --> 00:51:45,019
corner maybe, I don't
know, it's hard to say.
806
00:51:45,019 --> 00:51:46,507
The team knows that they
807
00:51:46,507 --> 00:51:48,707
have just scratched the surface.
808
00:51:48,707 --> 00:51:51,251
Tomorrow they will go
back to determine if this
809
00:51:51,251 --> 00:51:55,603
unexplored cavern leads
to another crystal cave.
810
00:52:01,017 --> 00:52:04,267
They will risk their lives to find out.
811
00:52:08,561 --> 00:52:10,011
This passage just curves
812
00:52:10,011 --> 00:52:12,593
around to the left here I think.
813
00:52:12,593 --> 00:52:13,949
There is another stunning
814
00:52:13,949 --> 00:52:17,093
cavern near the crystal cave.
815
00:52:17,093 --> 00:52:19,125
A cave that the miners say may have a
816
00:52:19,125 --> 00:52:23,292
passageway to an undiscovered
world of crystal marvels.
817
00:52:25,117 --> 00:52:26,732
Here's a fracture here.
818
00:52:26,732 --> 00:52:28,228
Oh yeah, I see that.
819
00:52:28,228 --> 00:52:29,180
A water course.
820
00:52:29,180 --> 00:52:30,628
Ooh, look at that, look at that.
821
00:52:30,628 --> 00:52:31,573
It's a gypsum flower.
822
00:52:31,573 --> 00:52:32,428
Nice.
823
00:52:32,428 --> 00:52:33,764
Very pretty.
824
00:52:33,764 --> 00:52:36,852
Look, it's
slightly pink from the iron.
825
00:52:36,852 --> 00:52:38,068
From the iron yes, look
826
00:52:38,068 --> 00:52:39,764
at all the iron on the ceiling.
827
00:52:39,764 --> 00:52:41,772
We need to sample that.
828
00:52:41,772 --> 00:52:43,156
We need to sample the iron around
829
00:52:43,156 --> 00:52:44,660
it, I don't wanna touch that beautiful--
830
00:52:44,660 --> 00:52:46,644
The water course
goes all the way down.
831
00:52:46,644 --> 00:52:48,133
Scientists Penny Boston
832
00:52:48,133 --> 00:52:51,259
and Mike Spildee check it out.
833
00:52:51,259 --> 00:52:52,683
- I think the cave is up here
834
00:52:52,683 --> 00:52:55,595
right around the corner to the left.
835
00:52:55,595 --> 00:52:58,235
It's called The Queen's Eye.
836
00:52:58,235 --> 00:53:00,563
It's about a 150 meter walk down the
837
00:53:00,563 --> 00:53:04,313
tunnel from the entrance
to the crystal cave.
838
00:53:06,283 --> 00:53:09,371
Very different in
scale from the other cave.
839
00:53:09,371 --> 00:53:11,204
There it is, I see it.
840
00:53:13,018 --> 00:53:14,426
The Queen's Eye has
841
00:53:14,426 --> 00:53:17,176
a gem-like crystal at its center.
842
00:53:18,154 --> 00:53:18,987
The eye.
843
00:53:23,426 --> 00:53:25,242
If it were not for the overwhelming
844
00:53:25,242 --> 00:53:27,178
crystal cave out the corridor,
845
00:53:27,178 --> 00:53:28,874
this cave alone would be considered
846
00:53:28,874 --> 00:53:32,338
one of the world's great marvels.
847
00:53:32,338 --> 00:53:35,394
It's about 35 degrees celsius in here.
848
00:53:35,394 --> 00:53:39,226
Not as punishing, but still very humid.
849
00:53:39,226 --> 00:53:40,905
Ouch.
850
00:53:40,905 --> 00:53:43,489
Yeah, they're sharp aren't they?
851
00:53:43,489 --> 00:53:45,057
Look at that, it's like being
852
00:53:45,057 --> 00:53:47,575
on the inside of a cut gem, isn't it?
853
00:53:47,575 --> 00:53:50,041
It's just flowerless.
854
00:53:50,041 --> 00:53:51,481
And the climb to the
855
00:53:51,481 --> 00:53:53,497
top of The Queen's Eye is much more
856
00:53:53,497 --> 00:53:57,017
treacherous than anything
in the crystal cave.
857
00:53:57,017 --> 00:54:00,313
That's just where Boston
and Spildee want to go.
858
00:54:00,313 --> 00:54:04,809
I'm gonna
climb down through here.
859
00:54:04,809 --> 00:54:06,377
There's a pool of water
860
00:54:06,377 --> 00:54:07,792
that may contain bacteria and
861
00:54:07,792 --> 00:54:10,769
viruses for further study.
862
00:54:10,769 --> 00:54:12,368
The last time that we were
863
00:54:12,368 --> 00:54:14,392
here there was not the abundance of water
864
00:54:14,392 --> 00:54:17,352
that there is this time,
and this is a difference
865
00:54:17,352 --> 00:54:21,429
that we think is made very significant.
866
00:54:21,429 --> 00:54:24,096
This allows minerals and various
867
00:54:25,079 --> 00:54:27,231
other compounds to dissolve in the water,
868
00:54:27,231 --> 00:54:29,400
but it also means that bacteria that
869
00:54:29,400 --> 00:54:31,854
are living in the rock fracture habitat
870
00:54:31,854 --> 00:54:34,454
also let go and go weee and jump into
871
00:54:34,454 --> 00:54:37,287
the water flow, and so this allows
872
00:54:38,233 --> 00:54:40,536
us to get access to organisms that
873
00:54:40,536 --> 00:54:43,036
we weren't able to see before.
874
00:54:47,408 --> 00:54:49,104
There is also biological
875
00:54:49,104 --> 00:54:50,959
growth on the crystals here that
876
00:54:50,959 --> 00:54:53,959
cannot be found in the crystal cave.
877
00:54:58,415 --> 00:54:59,479
You got it?
878
00:54:59,479 --> 00:55:01,103
Yeah, perfect.
879
00:55:01,103 --> 00:55:02,686
Oh yeah, very nice.
880
00:55:04,223 --> 00:55:05,895
As they get samples,
881
00:55:05,895 --> 00:55:07,808
caver Mario Corsolini peers into the
882
00:55:07,808 --> 00:55:11,308
tiny passageways near the cave's entrance.
883
00:55:13,167 --> 00:55:15,039
The Queen's Eye is so close to the
884
00:55:15,039 --> 00:55:16,919
crystal cave, and in a direct line
885
00:55:16,919 --> 00:55:19,169
to the mysterious crevasse.
886
00:55:20,792 --> 00:55:23,038
It's a tantalizing possibility that this
887
00:55:23,038 --> 00:55:26,705
is the secret back door
to the crystal cave.
888
00:55:30,182 --> 00:55:32,182
But Corsolini encounters tunnels
889
00:55:32,182 --> 00:55:35,265
that are too small for a man to pass.
890
00:55:37,318 --> 00:55:41,485
A detailed scouring of the
cave reveals no passageways.
891
00:55:46,271 --> 00:55:48,188
Only astounding beauty.
892
00:55:55,631 --> 00:55:57,471
And there is another cave nearby
893
00:55:57,471 --> 00:56:00,590
that has its own unique shapes.
894
00:56:00,590 --> 00:56:03,923
The explorers call it The Cave of Sails.
895
00:56:09,030 --> 00:56:10,550
This chamber, about the size of
896
00:56:10,550 --> 00:56:12,270
a football field, has the same
897
00:56:12,270 --> 00:56:14,937
deadly heat as the crystal cave.
898
00:56:18,214 --> 00:56:21,957
And it has a feature that
the crystal cave does not.
899
00:56:21,957 --> 00:56:24,624
The crystals here are regrowing.
900
00:56:28,149 --> 00:56:29,869
Scientists believe the cave was
901
00:56:29,869 --> 00:56:32,461
emptied of water 20 years ago and
902
00:56:32,461 --> 00:56:34,477
these delicate precious crystals
903
00:56:34,477 --> 00:56:38,144
grew upward, undisturbed
by human explorers.
904
00:56:42,877 --> 00:56:44,652
It's a tantalizing clue of what
905
00:56:44,652 --> 00:56:46,332
would happen in the crystal cave
906
00:56:46,332 --> 00:56:48,999
if it were to be left to nature.
907
00:56:50,556 --> 00:56:53,889
The crystals would, in effect, reawaken.
908
00:57:01,276 --> 00:57:03,220
Now the Naica project scientists
909
00:57:03,220 --> 00:57:05,116
in the crystal cave begin the search
910
00:57:05,116 --> 00:57:08,783
for viruses in this
deadly, hot environment.
911
00:57:12,404 --> 00:57:14,404
,
912
00:57:14,404 --> 00:57:15,739
make us dress up like we're going
913
00:57:15,739 --> 00:57:17,915
on a polar expedition, but it's
914
00:57:17,915 --> 00:57:20,915
the hottest place I've ever been to.
915
00:57:22,955 --> 00:57:24,676
Danielle Winget is a
916
00:57:24,676 --> 00:57:26,331
biologist seeking to find answers
917
00:57:26,331 --> 00:57:29,248
in the hellish conditions at Naica.
918
00:57:30,843 --> 00:57:32,331
It's an almost entirely
919
00:57:32,331 --> 00:57:34,651
microbial ecosystem, so there are no
920
00:57:34,651 --> 00:57:37,523
big organisms here, there are no insects,
921
00:57:37,523 --> 00:57:40,690
there's no animals, it's all bacteria.
922
00:57:42,474 --> 00:57:44,130
Viruses are one of the primary
923
00:57:44,130 --> 00:57:46,276
predators of bacteria and so we
924
00:57:46,276 --> 00:57:48,693
anticipate finding them here.
925
00:57:52,346 --> 00:57:53,861
The biologists believe
926
00:57:53,861 --> 00:57:56,690
the viruses will be found in water.
927
00:57:56,690 --> 00:58:00,378
There's water everywhere
in this mine complex.
928
00:58:00,378 --> 00:58:03,243
Huge pipes and pumps redirect 50 degree
929
00:58:03,243 --> 00:58:06,493
celsius scalding water out of the mine.
930
00:58:09,050 --> 00:58:12,383
They go to a place the miners call Hell.
931
00:58:14,017 --> 00:58:16,353
It's at the mine's deepest point,
932
00:58:16,353 --> 00:58:18,520
more than 500 meters down.
933
00:58:22,881 --> 00:58:24,793
- We're gonna collect some small water
934
00:58:24,793 --> 00:58:27,226
samples first from the pipe, then from
935
00:58:27,226 --> 00:58:29,729
the wall back there, up on the floor
936
00:58:29,729 --> 00:58:33,145
of this pool, and also some plaque
937
00:58:33,145 --> 00:58:35,228
stuffed by the back wall.
938
00:58:37,960 --> 00:58:39,617
- Okay, so be careful.
939
00:58:39,617 --> 00:58:41,482
- She doesn't want me to wash away!
940
00:58:43,266 --> 00:58:44,650
They have chosen not
941
00:58:44,650 --> 00:58:46,650
to wear the bulky protective suits,
942
00:58:46,650 --> 00:58:50,317
sacrificing a longer
mission time for speed.
943
00:58:54,178 --> 00:58:57,313
This gives them less than
five minutes to work.
944
00:58:57,313 --> 00:59:01,769
After that, their bodies can
no longer cope with the heat.
945
00:59:01,769 --> 00:59:04,852
Toxins attack the brain, organs fail.
946
00:59:14,881 --> 00:59:15,714
- Got it?
947
00:59:15,714 --> 00:59:16,753
- Yeah, yup.
- Good.
948
00:59:16,753 --> 00:59:19,281
- Looks like the water hit right at 49.
949
00:59:19,281 --> 00:59:20,497
- Okay, 49.
950
00:59:20,497 --> 00:59:23,473
- And the nearest about 42.
951
00:59:23,473 --> 00:59:24,913
The race is on to
952
00:59:24,913 --> 00:59:26,680
collect water and soil samples
953
00:59:26,680 --> 00:59:29,597
for the scientific team to analyze.
954
00:59:35,289 --> 00:59:39,372
Severe tremor sets in as
Winget's body overheats.
955
00:59:40,256 --> 00:59:41,256
- This is...
956
00:59:43,800 --> 00:59:45,424
Water from one of the drips that
957
00:59:45,424 --> 00:59:46,863
was coming off from right above
958
00:59:46,863 --> 00:59:49,535
where I collected the wall sample.
959
00:59:52,888 --> 00:59:54,191
Time is up.
960
00:59:54,191 --> 00:59:55,524
They have to go.
961
00:59:56,919 --> 00:59:58,479
But these explorers are pushed
962
00:59:58,479 --> 01:00:01,151
to their physical limits.
963
01:00:01,151 --> 01:00:02,527
It will take hours for their core
964
01:00:02,527 --> 01:00:05,277
temperatures to return to normal.
965
01:00:10,751 --> 01:00:14,198
A makeshift lab is set up on the surface.
966
01:00:14,198 --> 01:00:18,686
Here the water is filtered
down and viruses captured.
967
01:00:18,686 --> 01:00:20,214
So what we're doing is
968
01:00:20,214 --> 01:00:22,478
we're capturing all the bacteria
969
01:00:22,478 --> 01:00:25,478
on this fine filter which is yellow.
970
01:00:27,694 --> 01:00:32,462
That has a 200 nanometer
core size, so very small.
971
01:00:32,462 --> 01:00:34,165
We'll trap all the bacteria in that,
972
01:00:34,165 --> 01:00:37,245
but the viruses should go through.
973
01:00:37,245 --> 01:00:40,495
By taking the bacteria out, then we can
974
01:00:42,829 --> 01:00:44,197
extract that material and then we
975
01:00:44,197 --> 01:00:47,101
can get, we'll be sequencing the DNA
976
01:00:47,101 --> 01:00:49,697
from those bacteria and trying to figure
977
01:00:49,697 --> 01:00:53,530
out whether it's complicated
or pretty simple.
978
01:00:57,761 --> 01:00:59,192
When the results come
979
01:00:59,192 --> 01:01:01,692
in, the team hits the jackpot.
980
01:01:04,080 --> 01:01:06,830
- So we are just full of viruses.
981
01:01:07,728 --> 01:01:08,561
Excellent.
982
01:01:08,561 --> 01:01:09,712
- Let me see, let me see, let me see.
983
01:01:09,712 --> 01:01:11,504
- Excellent, take a look.
984
01:01:11,504 --> 01:01:13,080
There are
as many as 10 million
985
01:01:13,080 --> 01:01:16,830
viruses in a single
milliliter of this water.
986
01:01:18,304 --> 01:01:19,969
Far more than the team expected
987
01:01:19,969 --> 01:01:23,639
to find in such a hostile environment.
988
01:01:23,639 --> 01:01:24,720
So we'll definitely
989
01:01:24,720 --> 01:01:27,279
be able to get DNA out of those babies.
990
01:01:27,279 --> 01:01:28,112
Yes!
991
01:01:28,112 --> 01:01:29,753
- Yay!
992
01:01:29,753 --> 01:01:31,103
These samples will be
993
01:01:31,103 --> 01:01:34,936
taken back to the lab
for full DNA sequencing.
994
01:01:39,936 --> 01:01:42,559
Back in the crystal cave, Mario Corsolini
995
01:01:42,559 --> 01:01:44,639
continues to explore the treacherous
996
01:01:44,639 --> 01:01:48,454
cavern that lies beyond
the deadly crevasse.
997
01:01:48,454 --> 01:01:52,621
Take your time, nice
and slow, watch your feet.
998
01:02:00,710 --> 01:02:02,494
He's
looking for an access way
999
01:02:02,494 --> 01:02:05,661
that may lead to another crystal cave.
1000
01:02:08,654 --> 01:02:10,566
But the camera arm proves too
1001
01:02:10,566 --> 01:02:14,149
cumbersome to handle
in the punishing heat.
1002
01:02:17,103 --> 01:02:19,125
After two days of adjustments,
1003
01:02:19,125 --> 01:02:20,789
the ice cube that was meant to bring
1004
01:02:20,789 --> 01:02:24,289
the explorers relief is still not working.
1005
01:02:25,325 --> 01:02:28,557
The crystal cave is
unforgiving on technology.
1006
01:02:28,557 --> 01:02:30,029
The air conditioning system that
1007
01:02:30,029 --> 01:02:32,696
worked in test after test fails.
1008
01:02:39,413 --> 01:02:41,341
This is the latest in a long line of
1009
01:02:41,341 --> 01:02:44,140
devices for the Naica
project team, seeking
1010
01:02:44,140 --> 01:02:47,890
technological ways to
combat the deadly heat.
1011
01:03:03,231 --> 01:03:06,103
Sensors attached to the
explorers were devised
1012
01:03:06,103 --> 01:03:08,623
to monitor heart and
blood pressure rates to
1013
01:03:08,623 --> 01:03:10,527
provide an early warning system
1014
01:03:10,527 --> 01:03:13,027
against extreme heat exposure.
1015
01:03:21,646 --> 01:03:24,454
But only low tech works in the cave.
1016
01:03:24,454 --> 01:03:27,787
Even then, no technology can be trusted.
1017
01:03:28,885 --> 01:03:30,597
Explorers have to be aware of the
1018
01:03:30,597 --> 01:03:32,335
messages coming from their bodies
1019
01:03:32,335 --> 01:03:35,168
and act fast before it's too late.
1020
01:03:44,797 --> 01:03:47,325
Scientists continue on various missions,
1021
01:03:47,325 --> 01:03:49,575
working at a constant pace.
1022
01:03:52,085 --> 01:03:53,725
They know that the crystal cave
1023
01:03:53,725 --> 01:03:55,661
will soon be flooded and this is
1024
01:03:55,661 --> 01:03:59,161
their last chance to unlock its mysteries.
1025
01:04:01,556 --> 01:04:02,389
- Okay.
1026
01:04:07,692 --> 01:04:09,284
These water samples may give
1027
01:04:09,284 --> 01:04:12,117
us some keys to looking at the way
1028
01:04:14,001 --> 01:04:15,811
most of the Earth was in the past,
1029
01:04:15,811 --> 01:04:17,518
now these are extreme environments,
1030
01:04:17,518 --> 01:04:20,116
but you can imagine if
you went back in time
1031
01:04:20,116 --> 01:04:22,347
most of the Earth was
very hot and very wet
1032
01:04:22,347 --> 01:04:24,571
and these are the kind of conditions
1033
01:04:24,571 --> 01:04:26,371
that you would expect life to have
1034
01:04:26,371 --> 01:04:27,955
been created and it's also the kinds
1035
01:04:27,955 --> 01:04:29,819
of conditions that perhaps might
1036
01:04:29,819 --> 01:04:31,215
be representative of lifeforms
1037
01:04:31,215 --> 01:04:32,871
that we might find in other planets
1038
01:04:32,871 --> 01:04:35,031
and again, so perhaps Naica will give us a
1039
01:04:35,031 --> 01:04:39,663
window into our search
for life on other worlds.
1040
01:04:39,663 --> 01:04:40,743
- Good!
1041
01:04:40,743 --> 01:04:42,998
Fabulous.
1042
01:04:56,126 --> 01:04:58,086
Meanwhile,
at the robin hole,
1043
01:04:58,086 --> 01:05:01,438
Marc Beverly prepares
for a second descent.
1044
01:05:01,438 --> 01:05:04,006
This time with the film crew in an effort
1045
01:05:04,006 --> 01:05:07,678
to return with images from down below.
1046
01:05:07,678 --> 01:05:09,029
- I'm really anxious to go down
1047
01:05:09,029 --> 01:05:11,229
to the very bottom of this and see...
1048
01:05:11,229 --> 01:05:12,406
He reviews the footage
1049
01:05:12,406 --> 01:05:15,965
from the first descent
with the scientific team.
1050
01:05:15,965 --> 01:05:17,965
- It's hard to tell because, again,
1051
01:05:17,965 --> 01:05:19,325
you're moving around a lot really
1052
01:05:19,325 --> 01:05:21,173
quickly, so maybe we could get
1053
01:05:21,173 --> 01:05:23,423
some more stills next time.
1054
01:05:24,709 --> 01:05:26,117
- Yeah, it's pretty hard not to
1055
01:05:26,117 --> 01:05:27,973
move around when you're so excited.
1056
01:05:27,973 --> 01:05:28,940
Could you tell if
1057
01:05:28,940 --> 01:05:30,212
there were crystals down there?
1058
01:05:30,212 --> 01:05:31,452
- Yeah, there's definitely crystals,
1059
01:05:31,452 --> 01:05:32,943
there's small crystals and they're
1060
01:05:32,943 --> 01:05:34,873
completely all over the
place, on the ceiling.
1061
01:05:34,873 --> 01:05:36,216
- Just on the ceiling?
1062
01:05:36,216 --> 01:05:37,736
- Seemed like just on the ceiling,
1063
01:05:37,736 --> 01:05:39,457
but there's a lot of powder on the floor,
1064
01:05:39,457 --> 01:05:41,080
so I mean we could brush away
1065
01:05:41,080 --> 01:05:42,624
and see what's underneath.
- Right.
1066
01:05:42,624 --> 01:05:44,240
- Maybe we can plan if there's
1067
01:05:44,240 --> 01:05:46,248
a way of going farther, we probably
1068
01:05:46,248 --> 01:05:47,672
need to do more planning.
1069
01:05:47,672 --> 01:05:48,560
- Sure.
1070
01:05:48,560 --> 01:05:50,656
- It sure is hot down there, you know?
1071
01:05:50,656 --> 01:05:52,096
- Yeah, it's entertaining.
1072
01:06:00,032 --> 01:06:01,583
Beverly's not crazy about
1073
01:06:01,583 --> 01:06:03,607
the idea of taking three extra people
1074
01:06:03,607 --> 01:06:07,391
down to a potentially dangerous cave.
1075
01:06:07,391 --> 01:06:09,695
All right, we're good.
1076
01:06:09,695 --> 01:06:11,999
I think we're ready for a lower.
1077
01:06:11,999 --> 01:06:14,159
Even for his experienced
1078
01:06:14,159 --> 01:06:16,351
climbers it is a tremendous risk.
1079
01:06:16,351 --> 01:06:19,434
Everything depends upon his planning.
1080
01:06:21,311 --> 01:06:23,638
A single mistake spells certain death,
1081
01:06:23,638 --> 01:06:26,638
plummeting 600 meters straight down.
1082
01:06:30,902 --> 01:06:32,702
Tensions are running high as
1083
01:06:32,702 --> 01:06:35,702
cameras and crew make their descent.
1084
01:06:43,566 --> 01:06:45,301
This time the objective is to
1085
01:06:45,301 --> 01:06:47,405
get deep into the cave and see
1086
01:06:47,405 --> 01:06:50,572
if it leads to another crystal cavern.
1087
01:06:53,173 --> 01:06:56,256
A black, unknown cavern awaits below.
1088
01:06:57,621 --> 01:07:00,877
As the surface world disappears.
1089
01:07:06,998 --> 01:07:10,421
Yeah, this hole is amazing.
1090
01:07:10,421 --> 01:07:12,504
150 meters.
1091
01:07:14,092 --> 01:07:15,009
10 minutes.
1092
01:07:17,572 --> 01:07:20,876
A winch built for dragging
giant trees now holds
1093
01:07:20,876 --> 01:07:24,876
the lives of five men on
a single one inch rope.
1094
01:07:27,060 --> 01:07:28,156
There you go.
1095
01:07:28,156 --> 01:07:29,989
This is it.
1096
01:07:34,204 --> 01:07:37,537
We're in Naica, Naica Mountain.
1097
01:07:40,086 --> 01:07:43,169
Justin's entering the cave right now.
1098
01:07:51,849 --> 01:07:53,911
Angie, this is Justin.
1099
01:07:53,911 --> 01:07:58,078
Go ahead and lower approximately
five feet, five feet.
1100
01:07:59,877 --> 01:08:00,710
- Copy.
1101
01:08:03,797 --> 01:08:05,668
- All right Manuel, I'm gonna give
1102
01:08:05,668 --> 01:08:09,001
you a belay off of this and pull you in.
1103
01:08:15,102 --> 01:08:17,131
All right Manuel, we're gonna need you
1104
01:08:17,131 --> 01:08:20,881
to stop filming for a
moment and crawl on in.
1105
01:08:31,443 --> 01:08:32,730
- Wow.
1106
01:08:32,730 --> 01:08:34,522
Holy smokes, huh?
1107
01:08:34,522 --> 01:08:35,794
Check this out.
1108
01:08:35,794 --> 01:08:38,146
We got a fairly significant
wind right here.
1109
01:08:38,146 --> 01:08:42,651
It's actually going up
this tube, it's 1,500 feet
1110
01:08:42,651 --> 01:08:44,372
all the way from the top to the bottom,
1111
01:08:44,372 --> 01:08:46,435
we're about 450 feet down right now
1112
01:08:46,435 --> 01:08:48,203
and you can see the condensation
1113
01:08:48,203 --> 01:08:49,829
dripping from the interface of
1114
01:08:49,829 --> 01:08:52,496
the two temperatures of the air.
1115
01:08:53,644 --> 01:08:57,811
We're gonna go explore this
thing, come on, let's go.
1116
01:09:01,043 --> 01:09:02,067
Clipping in here?
1117
01:09:02,067 --> 01:09:03,883
Yeah, I just,
I got all this on there.
1118
01:09:03,883 --> 01:09:05,387
- All right great, holy smokes.
1119
01:09:05,387 --> 01:09:07,596
Watch my glasses.
1120
01:09:07,596 --> 01:09:09,096
Watch this, ready?
1121
01:09:13,498 --> 01:09:14,998
That's crazy, huh?
1122
01:09:17,803 --> 01:09:19,386
The explorers fear
1123
01:09:19,386 --> 01:09:20,890
that the impact of the drill which
1124
01:09:20,890 --> 01:09:22,850
discovered this cave could have
1125
01:09:22,850 --> 01:09:25,066
created giant deadly cracks
1126
01:09:25,066 --> 01:09:27,399
dropping off into the abyss.
1127
01:09:36,051 --> 01:09:39,530
The temperature is 45 degrees celsius.
1128
01:09:39,530 --> 01:09:41,410
It would kill them in half an hour
1129
01:09:41,410 --> 01:09:43,258
if not for the nearby relief of
1130
01:09:43,258 --> 01:09:45,698
cool air at The robin hole.
1131
01:09:45,698 --> 01:09:46,781
Wow.
1132
01:09:51,828 --> 01:09:52,661
- Oh yeah.
1133
01:09:54,612 --> 01:09:55,748
If the crystal cave
1134
01:09:55,748 --> 01:09:58,248
is Heaven, this place is Hell.
1135
01:10:02,860 --> 01:10:05,004
A blast of hot air that far exceeds
1136
01:10:05,004 --> 01:10:07,099
the giant crystal cave pulses
1137
01:10:07,099 --> 01:10:10,099
from some unseen cavern at the back.
1138
01:10:12,907 --> 01:10:14,843
No human could last here more than
1139
01:10:14,843 --> 01:10:16,707
a few minutes if it were not for
1140
01:10:16,707 --> 01:10:19,624
the cool air from the nearby shaft.
1141
01:10:23,163 --> 01:10:24,723
- Robin hole.
1142
01:10:24,723 --> 01:10:27,140
.
1143
01:10:33,276 --> 01:10:35,186
Strange formations unlike
1144
01:10:35,186 --> 01:10:38,436
any ever seen grow on walls and floors.
1145
01:10:40,794 --> 01:10:44,059
No sign of giant crystals, but everywhere
1146
01:10:44,059 --> 01:10:46,178
there are other marvels unlike
1147
01:10:46,178 --> 01:10:49,011
anything ever discovered on Earth.
1148
01:10:53,210 --> 01:10:54,442
Dude, this is virgin,
1149
01:10:54,442 --> 01:10:55,818
this is pristine, this is as good
1150
01:10:55,818 --> 01:10:58,318
as it's ever gonna get for us.
1151
01:10:59,776 --> 01:11:01,636
Nothing more.
1152
01:11:01,636 --> 01:11:03,372
Tiny filament crystals
1153
01:11:03,372 --> 01:11:05,860
that look like fiber optics, but these
1154
01:11:05,860 --> 01:11:08,193
are made by nature, not man.
1155
01:11:09,085 --> 01:11:12,668
A single breath could
destroy them forever.
1156
01:11:16,396 --> 01:11:18,012
The edges of the cave are covered
1157
01:11:18,012 --> 01:11:20,532
in cauliflower shapes often seen in
1158
01:11:20,532 --> 01:11:23,449
other caves, but not on this scale.
1159
01:11:24,435 --> 01:11:28,602
They resemble coral, an unlikely
sight in a desert cavern.
1160
01:11:30,971 --> 01:11:34,804
- There's lots of little
broccoflower crystals
1161
01:11:36,268 --> 01:11:40,539
everywhere, not just on
top, but also on the bottom.
1162
01:11:40,539 --> 01:11:43,707
This is as far as we go down.
1163
01:11:43,707 --> 01:11:45,842
There's also some very fine crystals
1164
01:11:45,842 --> 01:11:47,730
that appear to be selenite crystals,
1165
01:11:47,730 --> 01:11:49,361
so it looks like if you could get
1166
01:11:49,361 --> 01:11:51,010
down further without disrupting any of
1167
01:11:51,010 --> 01:11:53,058
the crystals, which obviously we can't,
1168
01:11:53,058 --> 01:11:54,266
but if I could pinch this off
1169
01:11:54,266 --> 01:11:56,522
and it might go down there which
1170
01:11:56,522 --> 01:11:59,506
means, in caving terminology, if something
1171
01:11:59,506 --> 01:12:02,839
"goes" that means the passage continues.
1172
01:12:04,106 --> 01:12:05,386
Some of the finer
1173
01:12:05,386 --> 01:12:07,962
crystals grow in bundles
and clumps looking
1174
01:12:07,962 --> 01:12:11,629
more like creatures
than mineral formations.
1175
01:12:28,960 --> 01:12:30,511
They determine that this cave
1176
01:12:30,511 --> 01:12:32,463
is about 50 by 50 meters with
1177
01:12:32,463 --> 01:12:34,295
a three meter ceiling that drops
1178
01:12:34,295 --> 01:12:37,295
in some places to less than a meter.
1179
01:12:39,959 --> 01:12:41,903
There is one narrow tunnel leading
1180
01:12:41,903 --> 01:12:44,986
off it that may lead to another cave.
1181
01:12:53,159 --> 01:12:57,894
It's a whole new world,
not like any world we know.
1182
01:13:06,721 --> 01:13:09,577
These are delicate
features, look at this.
1183
01:13:09,577 --> 01:13:10,660
Look at that.
1184
01:13:12,257 --> 01:13:14,114
Despite its incredible heat,
1185
01:13:14,114 --> 01:13:16,641
and because of its unique white shapes,
1186
01:13:16,641 --> 01:13:20,224
the team decides to
call it the ice palace.
1187
01:13:21,985 --> 01:13:23,465
Been a lot
more of those hairline
1188
01:13:23,465 --> 01:13:26,136
crystals forming right here on this edge.
1189
01:13:26,136 --> 01:13:28,969
Right where all this cloud begins.
1190
01:13:33,459 --> 01:13:34,991
The team seeks a passage
1191
01:13:34,991 --> 01:13:36,702
at the rear of the cave to see if
1192
01:13:36,702 --> 01:13:38,607
it leads to another crystal cavern
1193
01:13:38,607 --> 01:13:41,524
and is met with a blast of hot air.
1194
01:13:45,214 --> 01:13:46,297
Wow!
1195
01:13:47,134 --> 01:13:48,958
I've got active air blowing across
1196
01:13:48,958 --> 01:13:52,041
my face at probably 10 miles an hour.
1197
01:13:58,482 --> 01:14:01,125
Dude, this is absolutely awesome.
1198
01:14:01,125 --> 01:14:02,357
It's insane, if I move my
1199
01:14:02,357 --> 01:14:03,581
head up like this I can feel air move
1200
01:14:03,581 --> 01:14:05,060
out of that hole and hit me in the face.
1201
01:14:05,060 --> 01:14:06,204
Yeah, it's running right
1202
01:14:06,204 --> 01:14:07,300
along the top of the cave.
1203
01:14:07,300 --> 01:14:08,684
This is how
this cave is heated.
1204
01:14:08,684 --> 01:14:09,949
Drop your
head, you don't feel it.
1205
01:14:09,949 --> 01:14:11,167
Right, so I cannot feel it
1206
01:14:11,167 --> 01:14:14,225
right now, and then I feel active here.
1207
01:14:14,225 --> 01:14:16,113
It's coming out of this hole.
1208
01:14:16,113 --> 01:14:17,305
They wonder if this
1209
01:14:17,305 --> 01:14:19,617
is the path to a crystal cave.
1210
01:14:19,617 --> 01:14:20,568
It keeps going.
1211
01:14:20,568 --> 01:14:21,401
Oh no way.
1212
01:14:21,401 --> 01:14:22,234
Yeah.
1213
01:14:22,234 --> 01:14:23,585
Don't kill yourself, dude.
1214
01:14:23,585 --> 01:14:24,801
A path filled with
1215
01:14:24,801 --> 01:14:27,104
countless magnificent chambers.
1216
01:14:27,104 --> 01:14:30,354
Marc, just be careful, dude.
1217
01:14:32,309 --> 01:14:34,152
But each one deadlier than
1218
01:14:34,152 --> 01:14:37,819
the last, further from
escape to cooler air.
1219
01:14:44,384 --> 01:14:46,536
From this point on, Beverly documents
1220
01:14:46,536 --> 01:14:50,023
what he sees with a
personal video recorder.
1221
01:14:50,023 --> 01:14:52,327
Absolutely crazy.
1222
01:14:52,327 --> 01:14:55,040
We're in a really tight
crawlspace and this thing goes.
1223
01:14:55,040 --> 01:14:56,367
And the ground is hot.
1224
01:14:56,367 --> 01:14:57,799
It's very warm.
1225
01:14:57,799 --> 01:15:00,303
The heat
blasts in at 15 kilometers
1226
01:15:00,303 --> 01:15:04,207
per hour from some unseen source beyond.
1227
01:15:04,207 --> 01:15:06,311
This is absolutely amazing.
1228
01:15:06,311 --> 01:15:09,143
What I've never seen is one
of these things right here.
1229
01:15:09,143 --> 01:15:10,463
Oh I see what you see.
1230
01:15:10,463 --> 01:15:13,191
It's a cotton
ball, selenite cotton ball,
1231
01:15:13,191 --> 01:15:17,024
in-between aragonite
broccoflower essentially.
1232
01:15:17,935 --> 01:15:19,534
Amazing.
1233
01:15:19,534 --> 01:15:21,454
.
1234
01:15:21,454 --> 01:15:24,182
I'll take a peek this way.
1235
01:15:24,182 --> 01:15:25,974
Oh Marc, this is crazy.
1236
01:15:25,974 --> 01:15:28,070
This is gorgeous.
1237
01:15:28,070 --> 01:15:29,915
It's hot without
to turn around.
1238
01:15:29,915 --> 01:15:31,907
Okay.
1239
01:15:31,907 --> 01:15:34,227
I'm burnt, very burnt.
1240
01:15:34,227 --> 01:15:37,731
The tunnel
drops to another cave.
1241
01:15:37,731 --> 01:15:40,235
Exploring it is impossible.
1242
01:15:40,235 --> 01:15:42,485
It is too hot, too cramped.
1243
01:15:43,979 --> 01:15:45,634
Too dangerous.
1244
01:15:45,634 --> 01:15:46,594
We're outta here.
1245
01:15:46,594 --> 01:15:47,859
Let's go.
1246
01:15:47,859 --> 01:15:49,626
If there
is another crystal cave,
1247
01:15:49,626 --> 01:15:53,126
they would die trying to find it this way.
1248
01:15:57,882 --> 01:15:59,738
Their work continues, collecting more
1249
01:15:59,738 --> 01:16:02,905
samples for the scientists to analyze.
1250
01:16:04,426 --> 01:16:05,906
These are all
crystals, you can see
1251
01:16:05,906 --> 01:16:07,210
there's some dirt that's been stuck
1252
01:16:07,210 --> 01:16:10,250
on them, but they're very very opaque.
1253
01:16:10,250 --> 01:16:14,009
Crystals in the running
along the fault line.
1254
01:16:14,009 --> 01:16:16,665
Time is up.
1255
01:16:16,665 --> 01:16:20,748
The crew now returns to
the world at the surface.
1256
01:16:21,585 --> 01:16:23,346
But Marc Beverly decides to make
1257
01:16:23,346 --> 01:16:26,489
one daring push alone to descent to
1258
01:16:26,489 --> 01:16:28,897
the bottom of the shaft to see if
1259
01:16:28,897 --> 01:16:32,097
there is any evidence of other caves.
1260
01:16:32,097 --> 01:16:35,513
You be safe, take your time.
1261
01:16:35,513 --> 01:16:39,470
600 meters on a single rope
1262
01:16:39,470 --> 01:16:43,470
with no one to save him
if something goes wrong.
1263
01:16:50,645 --> 01:16:53,478
Hours pass with no communications.
1264
01:16:54,661 --> 01:16:58,828
The surface team is tired,
frustrated, even scared.
1265
01:17:07,461 --> 01:17:08,628
A horn signal.
1266
01:17:10,037 --> 01:17:11,374
Haul begins.
1267
01:17:14,934 --> 01:17:16,851
But something is wrong.
1268
01:17:19,178 --> 01:17:21,928
Marc Beverly is not on the rope.
1269
01:17:42,429 --> 01:17:43,467
- Lower!
1270
01:17:43,467 --> 01:17:44,355
Lower?
1271
01:17:44,355 --> 01:17:45,938
Yeah.
1272
01:17:47,000 --> 01:17:49,889
I think he meant for us to lower it.
1273
01:17:49,889 --> 01:17:51,296
I think he disconnected at the
1274
01:17:51,296 --> 01:17:52,696
bottom and meant for us to lower
1275
01:17:52,696 --> 01:17:55,196
it more so he could reconnect.
1276
01:17:59,928 --> 01:18:03,595
Finally
the horn sounds again.
1277
01:18:06,608 --> 01:18:08,808
A half hour long ascent reveals a
1278
01:18:08,808 --> 01:18:11,000
Beverly who is soaking and freezing
1279
01:18:11,000 --> 01:18:14,104
cold in the near zero desert air.
1280
01:18:14,104 --> 01:18:16,111
- Give them a signal.
1281
01:18:16,111 --> 01:18:17,194
- Slow, slow!
1282
01:18:18,218 --> 01:18:19,634
Slow!
1283
01:18:21,196 --> 01:18:23,113
- Hey, what's up, baby?
1284
01:18:26,401 --> 01:18:29,572
You don't need to pass that knot.
1285
01:18:29,572 --> 01:18:31,180
He returns
from the bottom of a
1286
01:18:31,180 --> 01:18:35,097
shaft that is deeper than
the CN Tower is tall.
1287
01:18:36,109 --> 01:18:37,396
Wow, it's so much warmer
1288
01:18:37,396 --> 01:18:39,564
up here, it's not even funny.
1289
01:18:39,564 --> 01:18:41,468
I can just get out probably.
1290
01:18:41,468 --> 01:18:43,900
If I could actually physically move.
1291
01:18:43,900 --> 01:18:46,132
I'm so, so frozen.
1292
01:18:46,132 --> 01:18:48,340
- I got a hot tea and
stuff for you in the tent.
1293
01:18:48,340 --> 01:18:52,507
and go to the tent.
1294
01:18:53,452 --> 01:18:55,535
Yeah, just go over there.
1295
01:19:00,811 --> 01:19:02,907
I think they wanna talk
to you for a second.
1296
01:19:02,907 --> 01:19:04,851
Let me get you a jacket.
1297
01:19:04,851 --> 01:19:07,684
This is real soaking wet.
1298
01:19:10,379 --> 01:19:12,129
So there's lots of...
1299
01:19:14,335 --> 01:19:16,502
Lots of pit and some cave.
1300
01:19:20,391 --> 01:19:23,518
There's a small little area which
1301
01:19:23,518 --> 01:19:25,982
is, it's really fascinating.
1302
01:19:25,982 --> 01:19:27,518
Beverly is wet because the
1303
01:19:27,518 --> 01:19:29,998
shaft was overflowing
with scorching water,
1304
01:19:29,998 --> 01:19:32,286
streaming like a waterfall and
1305
01:19:32,286 --> 01:19:35,430
dropping into the mine down below.
1306
01:19:35,430 --> 01:19:36,878
Extra coat, gloves.
1307
01:19:36,878 --> 01:19:37,711
- Thanks.
1308
01:19:39,186 --> 01:19:42,376
At about 4110, there was just
1309
01:19:42,376 --> 01:19:44,344
water pouring pouring pouring,
1310
01:19:44,344 --> 01:19:46,216
then it gets down to the bottom,
1311
01:19:46,216 --> 01:19:49,064
but there's just some really big crystals,
1312
01:19:49,064 --> 01:19:52,880
I think, I hope I got some images of it.
1313
01:19:52,880 --> 01:19:54,376
Beverly does not know
1314
01:19:54,376 --> 01:19:56,000
that his helmet camera failed
1315
01:19:56,000 --> 01:19:58,136
somewhere in the depths of the robin hole,
1316
01:19:58,136 --> 01:20:00,303
probably at the waterfall.
1317
01:20:02,980 --> 01:20:06,331
- You're just in this convection...
1318
01:20:06,331 --> 01:20:09,248
Cylinder of air and, thanks, and...
1319
01:20:12,635 --> 01:20:14,643
Get some
freezing windchill effect.
1320
01:20:14,643 --> 01:20:16,227
- Oh it's so cold!
1321
01:20:16,227 --> 01:20:17,459
But regardless of the
1322
01:20:17,459 --> 01:20:18,939
camera's failure, he has visually
1323
01:20:18,939 --> 01:20:20,206
confirmed that there are no more
1324
01:20:20,206 --> 01:20:23,206
caves to be discovered in the shaft.
1325
01:20:24,947 --> 01:20:26,595
- That's about the only crystal,
1326
01:20:26,595 --> 01:20:28,610
there was a few more I can't quite
1327
01:20:28,610 --> 01:20:32,277
remember 'cause it's
all a little foggy now.
1328
01:20:33,978 --> 01:20:35,380
As Beverly talks to the
1329
01:20:35,380 --> 01:20:37,034
crew on the surface, it's clear
1330
01:20:37,034 --> 01:20:39,834
that hypothermia is setting in.
1331
01:20:39,834 --> 01:20:40,667
- Okay.
1332
01:20:41,704 --> 01:20:42,896
I'm pretty cold.
1333
01:20:42,896 --> 01:20:44,248
His team gets him to
1334
01:20:44,248 --> 01:20:47,081
the tent for dry clothes and heat.
1335
01:20:49,856 --> 01:20:51,584
When Beverly recuperates, they will
1336
01:20:51,584 --> 01:20:55,167
continue their push of
the cave down below.
1337
01:20:56,608 --> 01:21:00,275
To see what other
mysteries it might reveal.
1338
01:21:06,792 --> 01:21:09,231
.
1339
01:21:09,231 --> 01:21:10,912
- Yeah, and the same kinds of plants,
1340
01:21:10,912 --> 01:21:14,495
.
1341
01:21:16,328 --> 01:21:18,191
After days
of deadly work in the
1342
01:21:18,191 --> 01:21:20,975
crystal cave, the scientific
team checks in with
1343
01:21:20,975 --> 01:21:24,142
the climbers of the nearby robin hole.
1344
01:21:30,967 --> 01:21:33,542
The Naica project's work
continues as Marc Beverly
1345
01:21:33,542 --> 01:21:37,375
collects more samples
for the team to analyze.
1346
01:21:38,614 --> 01:21:40,278
The scientists determine that the
1347
01:21:40,278 --> 01:21:42,695
cauliflower shapes are aragonite,
1348
01:21:42,695 --> 01:21:46,695
a mineral commonly found
in marine environments.
1349
01:21:48,895 --> 01:21:52,478
The spaghetti-like ones
are also aragonite.
1350
01:21:56,142 --> 01:21:57,478
- There you go.
1351
01:21:57,478 --> 01:21:58,749
While the filaments
1352
01:21:58,749 --> 01:22:01,832
resembling fiber optics are selenite.
1353
01:22:02,829 --> 01:22:06,829
Baby versions of the
giants in the crystal cave.
1354
01:22:09,245 --> 01:22:10,245
- 16 meters.
1355
01:22:12,693 --> 01:22:14,333
Beverly draws a detailed
1356
01:22:14,333 --> 01:22:16,821
map of the cave to
ensure that his findings
1357
01:22:16,821 --> 01:22:20,071
can be documented for future reference.
1358
01:22:22,397 --> 01:22:24,380
Climber Jason Williams describes
1359
01:22:24,380 --> 01:22:28,494
what they are seeing
150 meters down below.
1360
01:22:28,494 --> 01:22:30,525
- The cave down there, and once you
1361
01:22:30,525 --> 01:22:32,718
go into it, it actually opens up into,
1362
01:22:32,718 --> 01:22:34,942
it's an entire room, but the ceiling isn't
1363
01:22:34,942 --> 01:22:36,942
very high, it's probably only about
1364
01:22:36,942 --> 01:22:39,870
four or five feet high at the tallest.
1365
01:22:39,870 --> 01:22:42,439
If you go back a little ways, there's a
1366
01:22:42,439 --> 01:22:44,398
little upper room where it just gains
1367
01:22:44,398 --> 01:22:45,950
probably four feet, but if you go in
1368
01:22:45,950 --> 01:22:48,030
that four feet, the temperature
1369
01:22:48,030 --> 01:22:50,863
gets really really hot back there.
1370
01:22:52,278 --> 01:22:54,110
What the interesting thing to
1371
01:22:54,110 --> 01:22:56,246
you guys might be, is that the
1372
01:22:56,246 --> 01:22:58,996
bottom of the cave is very solid.
1373
01:23:00,013 --> 01:23:02,430
Crystals, minerals, and rock.
1374
01:23:04,350 --> 01:23:06,461
If you hit your head on the ceiling
1375
01:23:06,461 --> 01:23:09,087
in the bottom of the cave, clunk clunk.
1376
01:23:09,087 --> 01:23:10,365
If you're hit your head on the
1377
01:23:10,365 --> 01:23:12,517
ceiling in the top of the cave,
1378
01:23:12,517 --> 01:23:14,893
it just covers you in mud.
1379
01:23:14,893 --> 01:23:15,726
- Gush gush.
1380
01:23:15,726 --> 01:23:17,301
- Gush gush.
- Oh, okay.
1381
01:23:17,301 --> 01:23:18,365
- We like gush.
1382
01:23:18,365 --> 01:23:19,301
- Yeah.
1383
01:23:19,301 --> 01:23:20,373
- So and the other thing is--
1384
01:23:20,373 --> 01:23:21,821
- So it's moist then?
1385
01:23:21,821 --> 01:23:25,077
- It's moist throughout the
whole upper part of the cave.
1386
01:23:25,077 --> 01:23:26,364
- And we can just stick one of our
1387
01:23:26,364 --> 01:23:27,972
tubes straight up into the roof of
1388
01:23:27,972 --> 01:23:29,940
the cave and you guys pull back out,
1389
01:23:29,940 --> 01:23:31,516
it'll give us a cord, then we could layer
1390
01:23:31,516 --> 01:23:33,484
it and see what was in
the different layers.
1391
01:23:33,484 --> 01:23:35,204
Hopefully the stuff at the surface
1392
01:23:35,204 --> 01:23:36,967
would be one community and the stuff up
1393
01:23:36,967 --> 01:23:39,070
at the top would be the older stuff.
1394
01:23:39,070 --> 01:23:40,310
- We want both.
1395
01:23:40,310 --> 01:23:41,822
Yeah, we want both and
1396
01:23:41,822 --> 01:23:43,614
we're gonna look for viruses and bacteria.
1397
01:23:43,614 --> 01:23:44,447
- Yeah.
1398
01:23:44,447 --> 01:23:45,630
- And anything else.
1399
01:23:45,630 --> 01:23:46,990
And anything else.
1400
01:23:46,990 --> 01:23:49,029
And there is good news.
1401
01:23:49,029 --> 01:23:53,196
The team of geoelectric
mappers have hit pay dirt.
1402
01:23:54,819 --> 01:23:56,902
- Okay, let's go 50 more.
1403
01:24:01,381 --> 01:24:03,693
Oh wow, look at that.
1404
01:24:03,693 --> 01:24:04,757
In 90 minutes.
1405
01:24:04,757 --> 01:24:05,941
90 meters, and this
1406
01:24:05,941 --> 01:24:08,117
is one, two, three, four.
1407
01:24:08,117 --> 01:24:12,284
Well where is
the robin in relation to this?
1408
01:24:16,697 --> 01:24:20,222
That's only 90 meters down,
where that break occurred
1409
01:24:20,222 --> 01:24:23,294
in the robin, that was much
deeper, that was about 130.
1410
01:24:23,294 --> 01:24:24,831
That was further inside,
1411
01:24:24,831 --> 01:24:27,510
let's go to another slice further.
1412
01:24:27,510 --> 01:24:30,010
Yeah, maybe 130?
1413
01:24:31,173 --> 01:24:32,433
Yeah, look at that.
1414
01:24:32,433 --> 01:24:35,069
Yeah, you still see
really high resistivity.
1415
01:24:35,069 --> 01:24:36,885
Conceivably, if there is an opening
1416
01:24:36,885 --> 01:24:39,509
here, if that trend carries through,
1417
01:24:39,509 --> 01:24:42,485
we could make it up to a much bigger cave.
1418
01:24:42,485 --> 01:24:44,016
- Si, si.
1419
01:24:44,016 --> 01:24:45,509
So in the end we're gonna
1420
01:24:45,509 --> 01:24:46,837
put all this together and we'll get
1421
01:24:46,837 --> 01:24:50,093
a 3D map of the entire area so we can see
1422
01:24:50,093 --> 01:24:53,429
an outline of where
that chamber would sit.
1423
01:24:53,429 --> 01:24:55,348
Very cool, that's awesome, so we'll be
1424
01:24:55,348 --> 01:24:57,909
able to take the actual, the notes from
1425
01:24:57,909 --> 01:24:59,964
down there and map it out to this
1426
01:24:59,964 --> 01:25:02,316
3D map that we get here and get a
1427
01:25:02,316 --> 01:25:05,476
real picture of what's going on.
1428
01:25:05,476 --> 01:25:06,940
The geoelectric plan
1429
01:25:06,940 --> 01:25:08,708
indicates that the ice palace cave
1430
01:25:08,708 --> 01:25:11,291
may be linked to other caverns.
1431
01:25:13,516 --> 01:25:15,076
But whether humans can venture
1432
01:25:15,076 --> 01:25:16,932
from cave to cave is a mystery
1433
01:25:16,932 --> 01:25:19,599
that only exploration can solve.
1434
01:25:22,340 --> 01:25:24,148
The scientists report that in
1435
01:25:24,148 --> 01:25:26,107
the crystal cave they have penetrated
1436
01:25:26,107 --> 01:25:28,411
the long back corridor, but have not
1437
01:25:28,411 --> 01:25:29,907
been able to prove that it leads
1438
01:25:29,907 --> 01:25:32,074
to another crystal cavern.
1439
01:25:35,531 --> 01:25:37,499
The scientists ask Marc Beverly
1440
01:25:37,499 --> 01:25:39,291
to bring his team down to see if
1441
01:25:39,291 --> 01:25:40,979
their climbing expertise can be
1442
01:25:40,979 --> 01:25:42,771
of help in the deadly tunnel that
1443
01:25:42,771 --> 01:25:45,521
they think leads to another cave.
1444
01:25:47,907 --> 01:25:49,794
Together they will try to unlock
1445
01:25:49,794 --> 01:25:52,394
the cave's final secrets.
1446
01:25:52,394 --> 01:25:54,386
- What I'll do is I'll have the box,
1447
01:25:54,386 --> 01:25:57,202
I'll be able to look
and I'll say move right.
1448
01:25:57,202 --> 01:25:58,482
Beverly will use the
1449
01:25:58,482 --> 01:26:00,250
remote camera to probe the tiny
1450
01:26:00,250 --> 01:26:03,778
access ways that lead off the tunnel.
1451
01:26:03,778 --> 01:26:06,695
- Our team tactic is to move really
1452
01:26:07,676 --> 01:26:09,914
light and fast, so we're taking one
1453
01:26:09,914 --> 01:26:11,777
bag, it's gonna have a camera on the
1454
01:26:11,777 --> 01:26:13,889
top of it, we're gonna have a liter
1455
01:26:13,889 --> 01:26:16,192
and a half of fluid with two frozen
1456
01:26:16,192 --> 01:26:18,525
electrolyte packets with us.
1457
01:26:19,640 --> 01:26:21,040
Maybe an ice pack or two in there
1458
01:26:21,040 --> 01:26:22,360
to keep all that cool so we can
1459
01:26:22,360 --> 01:26:24,264
recuperate as we go through and
1460
01:26:24,264 --> 01:26:26,875
that's gonna be our gear.
1461
01:26:26,875 --> 01:26:28,707
Beverly
is more philosophical
1462
01:26:28,707 --> 01:26:32,243
about the risk they are about to take.
1463
01:26:32,243 --> 01:26:34,067
- We see this hole down there and it's
1464
01:26:34,067 --> 01:26:36,633
like the little, this little thing in
1465
01:26:36,633 --> 01:26:39,137
the back of your mind
saying go check it out.
1466
01:26:39,137 --> 01:26:40,345
Go check it out and see what's
1467
01:26:40,345 --> 01:26:42,800
back there, see what you can find.
1468
01:26:42,800 --> 01:26:45,785
People think that's crazy, they're like
1469
01:26:45,785 --> 01:26:47,400
why would you do that, why would you
1470
01:26:47,400 --> 01:26:49,520
expose yourself to this and really it
1471
01:26:49,520 --> 01:26:52,833
comes down to living life and this
1472
01:26:52,833 --> 01:26:54,840
is all about the human experience,
1473
01:26:54,840 --> 01:26:57,423
about living and not just doing
1474
01:26:59,649 --> 01:27:01,968
the same thing and getting lost
1475
01:27:01,968 --> 01:27:04,218
in the monotony of the day.
1476
01:27:05,778 --> 01:27:07,731
The climbers
decide that they will
1477
01:27:07,731 --> 01:27:10,930
wear ice vests, but no protective suits.
1478
01:27:10,930 --> 01:27:14,468
They believe the suits
will only slow them down.
1479
01:27:14,468 --> 01:27:17,551
They will sacrifice safety for speed.
1480
01:27:18,772 --> 01:27:21,189
- All right, well let's roll.
1481
01:27:23,895 --> 01:27:26,967
Time for a first push.
1482
01:27:26,967 --> 01:27:29,287
These explorers know
that if someone slips and
1483
01:27:29,287 --> 01:27:32,787
is knocked out, there's no hope of rescue.
1484
01:27:35,414 --> 01:27:38,231
They reach the end of the tunnel.
1485
01:27:38,231 --> 01:27:40,254
Without respirators and suits,
1486
01:27:40,254 --> 01:27:42,421
it is a race against time.
1487
01:27:43,910 --> 01:27:45,918
The climbers have marked the area with
1488
01:27:45,918 --> 01:27:49,335
their gear, but now they are disoriented.
1489
01:27:50,684 --> 01:27:55,306
The crystals and boreholes
look the same at every turn.
1490
01:27:55,306 --> 01:27:59,938
It's a 45 degree claustrophobic
house of mirrors.
1491
01:27:59,938 --> 01:28:01,945
Where are
you going, up there?
1492
01:28:01,945 --> 01:28:03,393
That's where I left the bag?
1493
01:28:03,393 --> 01:28:04,513
Yeah.
1494
01:28:04,513 --> 01:28:07,346
Just wanted to make sure.
1495
01:28:08,889 --> 01:28:10,746
If you
go, I'll bring you back.
1496
01:28:10,746 --> 01:28:11,579
- Okay.
1497
01:28:14,065 --> 01:28:16,577
.
1498
01:28:16,577 --> 01:28:20,494
- Like we didn't even go
to this the last time.
1499
01:28:21,954 --> 01:28:23,777
I went down there, I see it, that goes
1500
01:28:23,777 --> 01:28:26,154
to the mirrors, this way.
1501
01:28:26,154 --> 01:28:27,321
Yes, this way.
1502
01:28:30,354 --> 01:28:32,217
After 10 searing minutes,
1503
01:28:32,217 --> 01:28:34,300
they abandon the mission.
1504
01:28:35,321 --> 01:28:38,297
So there's several
holes, some dead end,
1505
01:28:38,297 --> 01:28:40,056
and we wanna make sure we get it right.
1506
01:28:40,056 --> 01:28:41,328
They return to mission
1507
01:28:41,328 --> 01:28:43,911
control exhausted and defeated.
1508
01:28:45,192 --> 01:28:46,525
- Good job, man.
1509
01:28:49,889 --> 01:28:51,857
Beverly is daunted.
1510
01:28:51,857 --> 01:28:56,024
The theory of traveling
fast and light didn't work.
1511
01:29:06,761 --> 01:29:08,511
- We are ready to go.
1512
01:29:10,168 --> 01:29:13,112
After a day's
rest, a second attempt.
1513
01:29:13,112 --> 01:29:15,368
This time the explorers wear no ice
1514
01:29:15,368 --> 01:29:18,728
at all despite the lethal heat.
1515
01:29:18,728 --> 01:29:21,040
They beeline straight for
the hole that they believe
1516
01:29:21,040 --> 01:29:25,447
is the best way to find
another crystal cave.
1517
01:29:25,447 --> 01:29:26,912
Beverly is certain he can see a
1518
01:29:26,912 --> 01:29:29,512
passage at the bottom of the hole.
1519
01:29:29,512 --> 01:29:32,552
We got crystals
straight in front of us.
1520
01:29:32,552 --> 01:29:35,052
We got lots of heat of course.
1521
01:29:36,416 --> 01:29:39,143
We're just trying to visually
1522
01:29:39,143 --> 01:29:42,060
document what we have as far as the
1523
01:29:43,471 --> 01:29:46,638
possibility for the passage that goes.
1524
01:29:49,719 --> 01:29:52,895
Okay, I got flat down the glow stick,
1525
01:29:52,895 --> 01:29:54,439
so we'll see what happens.
1526
01:29:54,439 --> 01:29:56,039
Going in again.
1527
01:29:56,039 --> 01:29:58,608
Keep going, I'm
looking on the viewfinder, Marc.
1528
01:29:58,608 --> 01:30:00,273
Go down, but you still, it looks like
1529
01:30:00,273 --> 01:30:01,492
about one to two feet that you
1530
01:30:01,492 --> 01:30:04,477
need to extend it inside of the cave.
1531
01:30:04,477 --> 01:30:05,468
Sounds good.
1532
01:30:05,468 --> 01:30:07,218
- Okay, lock it down.
1533
01:30:08,068 --> 01:30:09,956
That's a good shot.
1534
01:30:09,956 --> 01:30:12,740
- Okay, I gotta tighten the stuff.
1535
01:30:12,740 --> 01:30:16,907
going upside down, okay.
1536
01:30:18,148 --> 01:30:20,860
again.
1537
01:30:20,860 --> 01:30:22,420
After five punishing
1538
01:30:22,420 --> 01:30:24,753
minutes, a tantalizing clue.
1539
01:30:25,683 --> 01:30:29,500
In the top right corner
of the passageway, a void.
1540
01:30:29,500 --> 01:30:34,323
This looks to Beverly like
a passage to another cave.
1541
01:30:34,323 --> 01:30:38,235
This access way is too
small for human exploration.
1542
01:30:38,235 --> 01:30:40,283
Okay, good.
1543
01:30:40,283 --> 01:30:41,235
Anything else?
1544
01:30:41,235 --> 01:30:42,235
That's it.
1545
01:30:42,235 --> 01:30:44,099
I think that's it guys, we're done.
1546
01:30:44,099 --> 01:30:45,291
That was intense.
1547
01:30:45,291 --> 01:30:46,426
.
1548
01:30:46,426 --> 01:30:50,593
Yeah, all
right, everybody .
1549
01:30:52,315 --> 01:30:53,770
- Just take your time, watch your groin,
1550
01:30:53,770 --> 01:30:55,222
watch your ribs, you could easily
1551
01:30:55,222 --> 01:30:56,821
break a rib on one of these things.
1552
01:31:03,355 --> 01:31:04,987
But Beverly feels
1553
01:31:04,987 --> 01:31:06,995
within reach of solving the mystery,
1554
01:31:06,995 --> 01:31:10,715
that there is another crystal cave.
1555
01:31:10,715 --> 01:31:11,987
He reviews his footage with
1556
01:31:11,987 --> 01:31:14,580
Victor Torres in mission control.
1557
01:31:14,580 --> 01:31:16,619
- But it's high, okay stop there.
1558
01:31:16,619 --> 01:31:17,876
On The right hand corner you can
1559
01:31:17,876 --> 01:31:20,491
see that there's some steam up in that
1560
01:31:20,491 --> 01:31:22,779
area which to me is like that's a void.
1561
01:31:22,779 --> 01:31:25,123
- Give an idea of how
wide is that void there.
1562
01:31:25,123 --> 01:31:27,995
- It's only 25 centimeters
by 25 centimeters.
1563
01:31:27,995 --> 01:31:29,090
Not enough to--
1564
01:31:29,090 --> 01:31:31,570
Yeah, you know,
not enough to crawl through.
1565
01:31:31,570 --> 01:31:32,922
It's a possibility.
1566
01:31:32,922 --> 01:31:34,866
It's indeterminant, let's call it that.
1567
01:31:34,866 --> 01:31:39,033
It's not positive, it's not
negative, indeterminant.
1568
01:31:41,547 --> 01:31:43,586
Indeterminant means even if
1569
01:31:43,586 --> 01:31:45,642
there are other caverns connected by
1570
01:31:45,642 --> 01:31:49,392
air shafts, no human
explorer can go further.
1571
01:31:59,553 --> 01:32:03,641
But it was worth the risk to
explore beyond the crevasse.
1572
01:32:03,641 --> 01:32:05,849
New, wondrous crystals
are discovered in this
1573
01:32:05,849 --> 01:32:10,016
passageway not seen or
filmed on previous missions.
1574
01:32:14,145 --> 01:32:18,664
A sword-like one that
the team dubs Excalibur.
1575
01:32:18,664 --> 01:32:22,600
It would be a centerpiece in any museum.
1576
01:32:22,600 --> 01:32:25,017
Here, it is just a curiosity.
1577
01:32:27,824 --> 01:32:29,664
Another crystal on the floor that
1578
01:32:29,664 --> 01:32:31,997
is like a perfectly cut gem.
1579
01:32:36,080 --> 01:32:38,097
And all around, walls and pillars
1580
01:32:38,097 --> 01:32:40,497
of pristine crystals that rival
1581
01:32:40,497 --> 01:32:43,580
those in the large cavern down below.
1582
01:32:52,880 --> 01:32:55,047
The explorers have concluded for now
1583
01:32:55,047 --> 01:32:56,633
that the crystal cave and the ice
1584
01:32:56,633 --> 01:32:59,482
palace are not physically connected,
1585
01:32:59,482 --> 01:33:03,649
but they are both part of a
much larger system of caves.
1586
01:33:04,503 --> 01:33:07,471
It includes The Cave of Swords,
1587
01:33:07,471 --> 01:33:10,721
The Cave of Sails, and The Queen's Eye.
1588
01:33:14,159 --> 01:33:17,798
These caves have revealed new life.
1589
01:33:17,798 --> 01:33:19,998
I hate to leave this
1590
01:33:19,998 --> 01:33:22,126
environment because I think that
1591
01:33:22,126 --> 01:33:24,254
we probably will never see it again.
1592
01:33:24,254 --> 01:33:27,014
This is an extraordinary opportunity to
1593
01:33:27,014 --> 01:33:29,631
get a brief window in time that we
1594
01:33:29,631 --> 01:33:31,847
can look into a part of the subsurface
1595
01:33:31,847 --> 01:33:35,374
that we don't normally see, so leaving it,
1596
01:33:35,374 --> 01:33:37,726
I'm excited about what we have sampled
1597
01:33:37,726 --> 01:33:39,670
and what I think that we will find,
1598
01:33:39,670 --> 01:33:41,525
I think it will be very significant,
1599
01:33:41,525 --> 01:33:43,253
but I'm also very nostalgic about
1600
01:33:43,253 --> 01:33:45,781
the fact that I've seen amazing
1601
01:33:45,781 --> 01:33:48,357
beauties during these expeditions
1602
01:33:48,357 --> 01:33:50,485
and I won't see those again.
1603
01:33:50,485 --> 01:33:52,652
It's a bittersweet moment.
1604
01:33:54,253 --> 01:33:55,853
Millions of viruses have
1605
01:33:55,853 --> 01:33:59,677
been discovered in the
crystal cave's water.
1606
01:33:59,677 --> 01:34:01,253
The scientists determine that the
1607
01:34:01,253 --> 01:34:03,165
life here is the same as at the
1608
01:34:03,165 --> 01:34:06,836
hydrothermal vents at
the bottom of the sea.
1609
01:34:06,836 --> 01:34:09,556
Bacteria and viruses coexisting in
1610
01:34:09,556 --> 01:34:13,056
one of the toughest environments on Earth.
1611
01:34:15,061 --> 01:34:17,772
Their ongoing studies
are blazing a trail for
1612
01:34:17,772 --> 01:34:21,272
an understanding of life on other planets.
1613
01:34:25,524 --> 01:34:27,452
The mission is done.
1614
01:34:27,452 --> 01:34:29,364
Now everyone returns to the original
1615
01:34:29,364 --> 01:34:33,012
crystal cave for one last visit to say
1616
01:34:33,012 --> 01:34:36,262
goodbye as it may soon be gone forever.
1617
01:34:40,787 --> 01:34:43,163
Even if the ice palace cave does lead
1618
01:34:43,163 --> 01:34:45,723
to a series of other caves, it too is
1619
01:34:45,723 --> 01:34:49,659
no longer an option for future explorers.
1620
01:34:49,659 --> 01:34:53,243
The mine has decided to
cover the robin hole.
1621
01:34:53,243 --> 01:34:57,834
No one will ever explore
the ice palace again.
1622
01:34:57,834 --> 01:34:59,955
This may be the last time anyone
1623
01:34:59,955 --> 01:35:02,538
will see these natural wonders.
1624
01:35:04,179 --> 01:35:05,846
- I love this place.
1625
01:35:09,538 --> 01:35:13,705
But that's
not necessarily a bad thing.
1626
01:35:16,769 --> 01:35:18,729
Soon the crystal cave may return
1627
01:35:18,729 --> 01:35:21,396
to its natural state underwater.
1628
01:35:22,601 --> 01:35:24,657
The crystals may continue to grow,
1629
01:35:24,657 --> 01:35:28,240
perhaps to be rediscovered
at another time.
1630
01:35:36,064 --> 01:35:38,856
Sometimes the best things on Earth
1631
01:35:38,856 --> 01:35:41,356
are the things we leave alone.
111819
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