We interrupt our regular Cape Evans programming to bring you videos! Actual professional videos of Antarctica! One of my favourite TV shows growing up was PBS’ NOVA series, so it was a real joy to find that they’ve done a YouTube series based at McMurdo, talking about the science there, but also giving you a pretty good sense of what it’s like to live there, which is what Episode 1 is all about:
I am immensely pleased that Elaine Hood gets such a starring role in this, as she was my coordinator and pretty much makes everything happen for the Artists & Writers, and media people like PBS.
Episode 2 is about the Weddell seals, and you will recognise the setting from two posts ago!
The seals are often the only animals you see, unless you get in the way of some skuas (also pictured in the above episode). They lounge around on the ice, basking in the sun like cats, and more often than not snoring peacefully. I never got up close and personal with them like these people did, so it’s great to get that insight into seal life (and seal scientist life).
You can also have your own Antarctic Adventure on a website they’ve built for the series: Nova Polar Lab. I haven’t yet played with it myself, but it looks like it has a lot of great stuff.
It seems the series updates on Wednesdays, so subscribe if you’re interested, and please leave a comment to help the algorithm! Here are the rest of the videos they’ve uploaded so far:
Probably my favourite episode, not just because it starts in the Cape Evans hut but because it is full of wonderful wonderful people like Anne Todgham and Britney Schmidt:
In this video you find out just how super awesome Britney Schmidt is:
Some necessary facts of life!