Spelunking for Drugs

[hank moon]

Online article by Hazel Barton:

http://www.slate.com/articles/technolog ... tance.html

Love the title :)

Excerpt:

Inaccessible to normal modes of transport and the global view of human technology, there are few places on Earth of which we remain oblivious—perhaps the deep ocean, or the remote, ice-capped mountains of Central Asia? In most cases, access to these areas is a tremendous logistical challenge, requiring the support of governments or a generous donor. But there is one realm in exploration that remains open to the weekend warrior, that needs little more than a helmet, a light, and a willingness to endure a little risk: caves. And as I have learned, the rewards of cave exploration go far beyond the personal adrenaline rush. The depths of the Earth are rich in amazing materials that may help us solve one of the most pressing concerns in medicine today.