Thursday, March 8, 2018

Fourth Call, Antarctica

Fourth Call: Antarctica

7:05 PM


In this video conference, we are learning about the inner workings of the IceCube, which is a neutrino observatory made of thousands of sensors beneath the Antarctic ice. This research facility allows its resident physicists to analyze the components of the South Pole in order to observe high energy cosmic waves. Scientists from all around the world work with and on the IceCube. Due to the extreme cold weather, the people that inhabit the continent have to take extreme precautions in order to stay safe, such as wearing special types of clothing to keep warm. The current population of Antarctica is exactly 40 people, and another challenge they face is weight loss because most of the food they consume is canned. Due to the many hours of daylight, the researchers also find it difficult to maintain a consistent sleeping schedule, but enjoy doing their work despite the long hours.