Processes to form a void
There are many mechanisms leading to the formation of cavities and voids underground. Some caves are classified as “primary” because they are generated at the same time as the rocks containing them, others instead form subsequently, due to rock weathering that modify their original characteristics.
Primary caves
- Formed by biologic processes (in coral reefs)
- Formed by lava flows
- Formed by cooling processes
Secondary caves
- Eolian caves
- Sea caves
- Tectonic caves
- Karst caves
Special reports
-
13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
18 February 2022
Medicine, climate or space exploration? The main scientific challenges in 2022
According to the international journal Nature, the year that has just begun will bring with it major scientific and technological…
21 January 2022
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai
On 15 January, at about 5 pm (Italian time), the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted, spewing a huge amount of…
-
2 May 2021
Citizen science, research conducted by ordinary citizens
When we think of scientists, we often imagine people wearing white coats, shut up in a laboratory working with test…
9 February 2021
At the origin of rocks: the secrets of paleomagnetism
The magnetic minerals of the rocks contains a veritable repository of information about its birth, history and evolution...
28 August 2020
The Earth seen from above: signs of fires
This image was taken by the ASTER sensor installed on the NASA TERRA satellite platform. The image was taken on…
-
15 July 2020
Earth viewed from above
Remote satellite sensing: what it is and what it is used for In the scientific field, the images produced by…
12 April 2019
Easter with extinct friends
Easter Island is shaped like a triangle with three extinct volcanoes placed at the vertices, and has a total area…
5 July 2018
Science: Anaximander’s revolution
Anaximander the Milesian is reported to have been the first to open the doors of nature...
-
13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
18 February 2022
Medicine, climate or space exploration? The main scientific challenges in 2022
According to the international journal Nature, the year that has just begun will bring with it major scientific and technological…
-
21 January 2022
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai
On 15 January, at about 5 pm (Italian time), the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted, spewing a huge amount of…
2 May 2021
Citizen science, research conducted by ordinary citizens
When we think of scientists, we often imagine people wearing white coats, shut up in a laboratory working with test…
-
9 February 2021
At the origin of rocks: the secrets of paleomagnetism
The magnetic minerals of the rocks contains a veritable repository of information about its birth, history and evolution...
28 August 2020
The Earth seen from above: signs of fires
This image was taken by the ASTER sensor installed on the NASA TERRA satellite platform. The image was taken on…
-
13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
-
18 February 2022
Medicine, climate or space exploration? The main scientific challenges in 2022
According to the international journal Nature, the year that has just begun will bring with it major scientific and technological…
-
21 January 2022
Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai
On 15 January, at about 5 pm (Italian time), the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted, spewing a huge amount of…
From the Multimedia section
Facts
-
And in underground tunnels?
There are groups of terrestrial animals that eat insects, worms and other invertebrates...
The climate underground
Going down deep in the Earth’s crust, the temperatures increase gradually...
-
Can you breathe in a cave?
One of the most common beliefs is that in caves the air is often stuffy...
-
13 May 2011
A walk underground
The longest caves in the world are in Kentucky, the caves of Mammoth...
24 February 2011
And in underground tunnels?
There are groups of terrestrial animals that eat insects, worms and other invertebrates...
-
13 May 2011
The climate underground
Going down deep in the Earth’s crust, the temperatures increase gradually...
-
Can you breathe in a cave?
One of the most common beliefs is that in caves the air is often stuffy...
-
24 February 2011
And in underground tunnels?
There are groups of terrestrial animals that eat insects, worms and other invertebrates...
-
13 May 2011
The climate underground
Going down deep in the Earth’s crust, the temperatures increase gradually...