CHARLESTON — Take a special look at a scenic part of West Virginia few people see – the state’s hundreds of miles of caves — on this week’s “Outlook,” West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s weekly television show about people, places and events in West Virginia.

“Outlook” airs on West Virginia PBS at 9 p.m. each Thursday with a re-broadcast at 6 p.m. the following Sunday. This week’s program features three segments of the on-going “Lab 304” series which focus on science, math and research activities throughout the state.

“Underground West Virginia” - West Virginia has 4,300 known caves, more than a third of them in Greenbrier County. In this vast underground, recreational cavers will crawl, slither and climb to marvel at the beauty of this unseen world. Scientists from many disciplines are also reaping new knowledge in geology, biology, even pharmacology.

Greg Springer, professor of geology at Ohio University, can interpret a region’s climate record through cave formations called stalagmites.

“There is conclusive evidence that, in fact, solar output affects droughts in North America based on the study of stalagmites,” Springer said in a news release. “Their growth is directly related to the amount of water obtained from the surface and we can study the history of droughts – some that have lasted 100 years.”

“Ancient Secrets” – In Tucker County, a discovery of fossil animal remains is attracting international attention from the scientific community.

“Ice Mountain” – There’s a mountain in Hampshire County that harbors pockets of ice in its nooks and crannies all year round. Scientists are trying to determine if climate change is endangering this historic and natural wonder.
 

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