4. A really good clue

We humans have made a mark on our planet. We’ve changed the air we breathe, warmed the atmosphere and filled our oceans with microplastics. Is there anywhere left on Earth that is unchanged by humans? Anywhere we haven’t affected – at all?

Presenter Caroline Steel and producer Florian Bohr continue their search for No Man’s Land…if it exists.

In this episode, evolutionary biologist Professor Ben Garrod gives us a really good clue: hidden deep in underwater caves are almost mythical creatures – olms. These long, pale and skinny salamanders are highly sensitive to climate change. If a cave still has a thriving olm population, it could be the perfect candidate for No Man’s Land.

We track down olm expert and superfan Dušan Jelić, who dives into submerged cave systems to study these creatures. Plus, we hear from cave microbiologist Hazel Barton about another contender for No Man’s Land – Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico – thousands of miles of hidden passages beneath our feet.

Could this be the episode where we finally find No Man’s Land?

Presenter: Caroline Steel
Producer: Florian Bohr
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Stuart Laws