The underground is rich in life. Creatures that have taken thousands, sometimes millions of years, to adapt to living in the dark underground. Certainly interesting to study and learn about; but also useful? What is the point of studying blind salamanders and translucent crustaceans? Their adaptations teach us a lot about physiology and the functioning of the immune system and sensory organs. Not only that, but the presence and quality of groundwater will become increasingly important in a climate that we are changing, unfortunately making water progressively less available for human needs.
A panel by Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Comune di Trieste
