All around the South Pole, flags are used as markers—they can designate pathways or identify spots where equipment is buried below the surface. They’re especially important in winter to avoid getting lost in the dark when the already cold temperatures are at their coldest. But even in daylight, windy conditions at the Pole can dramatically […]
More than 250 participants took part in the fall IceCube Collaboration meeting, which wrapped up last week in Madison, Wisconsin. Hosted by the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison), the meeting ran from September 23 through September 27. The collaboration meets in Madison every two years in the fall. […]
Finally, the sun has officially risen at the South Pole. It’s manifesting in some beautiful soft colors along the horizon in this image of the flags at the ceremonial South Pole. These flags represent the twelve original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty. And exposed as they are to the harsh elements all year long, they […]
Snow at the Pole—in winter, it’s a lot like dirt swept under the rug. You know it’s there but you can’t really see it. Then, the sun starts to come up and, lo and behold, you see the large snowdrifts everywhere. Much of this snow will need to be cleared before activities of the summer […]
This story was originally published by the University of Wisconsin–Madison International Division. Among the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s many ambitious research endeavors, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory stands out as one of the most unique. This remarkable telescope, which has instrumented a billion tons of South Pole ice, is designed to search for tiny, ghostlike particles called neutrinos, helping […]
You might think that the IceCube Lab, looking so impressive in the photo above just before sunrise, was the highlight of last week at the Pole. But for the station’s winterovers, it was a video conference interview with astronaut Christina Koch that really got folks thrilled. Christina is no stranger to the South Pole. Prior […]
Last year, the “Name that Neutrino” project was launched, which called on volunteers from the public to help classify signals from neutrinos—tiny, ghostlike particles from outer space—for the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. The project was hosted on Zooniverse, the largest web-based research platform that invites novices and science enthusiasts alike to contribute […]
The South Pole sunrise is still not official, but tell that to the sky! It is definitely getting bright outside. Bright enough for a group to gather for a photo op at the ceremonial Pole. It looks like they’re waving, essentially saying “goodbye” to the long winter night. Things were mostly quiet last week at the […]
It’s that time of year again, when the sun rises at the South Pole. That’s right, time of year, singular, since the sun rises just one time over the course of a year. And it happens ever so slowly. They’re in a period of twilight these days—nautical twilight, to be specific, when the sun is […]
The South Pole’s “Polympics” definitely builds some fun into the competitions. There were all sorts of events, from a doughnut eating competition, to pool tournaments, to a box stacking contest. IceCube’s winterovers garnered their share of awards, with a cumulative six golds, four silvers, and two bronzes. Of course, with only 40 people and nearly […]