Have you ever come across strange patterns while caving and wondered if they were formed by life? Here at NASA JPL, we are teaching our space robots to be as curious as you are.
The National Speleological Society is hosting their second Bat Ball to ring in 2018. If you're in Huntsville, Alabama consider hanging out with some cavers and celebrate the New Year with dinner, dancing and a champagne toast! Caver-made craft libations will featured to keep the party going. In addition to the Bat Ball, guests are encouraged to camp for the long weekend and take in the sights, both above- and below-ground.
While inspecting caves in Alabama, researchers have positively identified White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in a bat. The USGS published a press release indicating that the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans was detected in a bat in the Corkscrew Cave in Shelby County, Alabama. WNS is particularly lethal, reducing affected populations by up to 90%.
Caving is an age-old hobby that brings people together to explore the worlds that exist beneath our feet. The National Speleological Society (NSS) is a member of AGI and promotes responsible and safe caving practices. If you've never been caving, you can explore caves with one of the over 250 NSS chapters called Grottos.
![By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters (tri-colored bat with WNS Uploaded by Dolovis) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](https://www.americangeosciences.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/blog-images/Tri-colored_bat_with_WNS_%286883616858%29_citation.png?itok=9rnvi0iq "By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters (tri-colored bat with WNS Uploaded by Dolovis) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons")
