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Arriving on the Southernmost Continent

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- (By Ron Hipschman) Five hours after boarding our flight in Christchurch, New Zealand, the intrepid Exploratorium crew arrives on the southern-most continent. As soon as the aircraft door opens and we feel the chill of the polar air...



In the Cockpit

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- (By Mary Miller) My dad used to fly in Antarctica in the 1970s. In this video dispatch, I go up to the cockpit of the same type of plane as we fly above the icy continent...



Why We Install GPS Systems

DEVERALL ISLAND, ANTARCTICA-- The POLENET project installed their newest high-precision GPS system on Deverall Island, Antarctica. These GPS systems tell us how much the ground underneath the ice sheet is moving upward...



Connecting Antarctic Science to Children

CAPE ROYDS, ROSS ISLAND, ANTARCTICA-- Most of the time while we are working with penguins in Antarctica, we are in the field at Cape Royds. We live in a tent and sleep on the ground near the breeding colony and it is a magical place for me. As far as we can see in any direction...



Penguin Poop Provides Answers

CAPE ROYDS, ROSS ISLAND, ANTARCTICA-- Not all of our work is in the field; some requires time in a lab and long hours working with a stereoscope. One of the questions we are trying to answer is what do the penguins eat? In previous times researchers would sacrifice a penguin and examine their stomach contents...



My Snow School Experience

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- I think part of the magic of this being my second trip to Antarctica is how, thus far, it has been completely unique to my last trip...



Holiday Weather in McMurdo

MCMURDO STATION, ANTARCTICA-- Thanksgiving Day weather at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, turned out to be pretty interesting, as weather always can change quickly here. Our holiday weekend greeted us with 50 mph winds, but it didn't effect the great feast we had in the dining hall...



So, You Want to Be a Penguin Researcher?

CAPE ROYDS, ROSS ISLAND, ANTARCTICA-- What is required? I’ve been asked many a time. Well, there is the usual sort of thing, like learning as much as possible in school about science and math, getting a good understanding about how the universe works, including the process of evolution...



Fata Morgana

OFFSHORE NEW HARBOR CAMP, ANTARCTICA-- Fata Morgana. This Italian expression rolls nicely off the tongue, but what do these foreign and wonderful words mean? What is the origin of this ghostly term? How does this phenomenon manifest itself in nature?...



Penguin Sense of Décor

CAPE ROYDS, ROSS ISLAND, ANTARCTICA-- Male Adélie Penguins were seen this year at Cape Royds on Oct 21. First a trickle then a flood, by mid November most of the nests had been built, the males had found a mate and the eggs were laid...