ABOARD THE RVIB N. B. PALMER, ON THE WEDDELL SEA-- As luck or fate would have it, the sea ice around Antarctica seems to be unusually persistent this year, reaching far beyond its usual summer extent, which makes moving forward a slow going process... {Read More »}

ABOARD THE RVIB N. B. PALMER, ON THE SOUTHERN OCEAN– As most unicellular phytoplankton algae, diatoms usually reproduce by division. One cell becomes two after mitosis; the two new algae are called “daughter cells”. Once in a long while diatoms go through sexual reproduction. What brings this phenomenon? {Read More »}

LAKE HOARE, DRY VALLEYS, ANTARCTICA– After spending time at the South Pole, flying to Cape Royds and Black Island, and otherwise keeping ourselves busy with webcasts and scientist interviews in McMurdo, Lisa and I hopped on a helicopter out to the Dry Valleys for a couple of days of hiking and camping in the coldest, driest desert on Earth... {Read More »}

KANGERLUSSUAQ, GREENLAND-- Limnology is the study of freshwater systems, like lakes. Have a look at this video to to see us do modern limnological sampling, recover sediment samples from last season, and introduce you to some of our equipment... {Read More »}

KANGERLUSSUAQ, GREENLAND-- To understand how Earth's climate system has changed over time, we need to find, develop and use natural recorders of temperature and precipitation. One natural thermometer comes in the form of alkenones: trans-fats produced by certain algae... {Read More »}

Shrimplike marine invertebrates that grow no bigger than about two and one-half inches (6 cm), krill are nonetheless food for gigantic baleen whales, along with penguins, seals, fish, sea birds, and many other predators. {Read More »}