Cave Science is the online home of the Barton Lab cave research group at the University of Akron. Led by Dr. Hazel A.

Barton, the lab has spent more than 15 years investigating microbial life in some of Earth’s most extreme cave environments, including Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, tepui caves in Venezuela, and iron formation caves in Brazil. Its interdisciplinary research combines molecular microbiology, physiology, materials chemistry, and geoscience to explore how microbes survive prolonged starvation, how antibiotics evolve, and how rock-eating microbes may contribute to cave formation. The site introduces the lab’s principal investigator and research team, and shares information about current projects, publications, and resources.

It also offers an introduction to caves and caving, along with outreach information for people interested in exploring the underground world. Visitors can learn about the group’s research and discoveries, meet the scientists behind the work, and subscribe to a newsletter for updates on events and announcements