Ep007:

Surviving a Deadly Cave Flood

Dr. Hazel Barton is a scientist who ventures where few dare to go — deep into the world’s most remote cave systems in search of microscopic life that could shape our future. Known as the “Lara Croft of microbiology,” Hazel blends frontier science with high-risk exploration, uncovering organisms with the power to recycle plastics and extract rare earth elements essential to modern technology.

In this episode, Hazel relives her harrowing near-death experience in a cave in China, where a sudden underground flood turned a routine survey into a desperate fight for survival. With vivid detail, she describes clinging to slick rock faces as a raging torrent threatened to sweep her team away. Alongside the drama, Hazel shares how her unlikely path — from a working-class childhood in Britain to becoming a geology professor who has explored caves in 37 countries — shaped her fearless curiosity. It’s a story of danger, discovery, and the extraordinary places science can take us.

Photo by Dave Bunnell