Research in Antarctica is important, but it’s not the most accessible place — have fun finding an Uber willing to take you (and your lab equipment) all the way there! Scientists no longer have to rely on foot travel, as they did decades ago, but taking to the air needs a bit of extra thought, because the technology has to work in Antarctica’s severe weather.
A promising solution is a new drone, tested in a part of North Wales known as “Snowdonia,” where the frigid temperatures put the drone through its cold weather paces. The drone has a few benefits — it doesn’t need a pilot on board (so it can go to remote places), it can travel up to 1000 km in one trip, and needs significantly less fuel than a normal plane. It does still need someone controlling it from the ground, but this can be from a computer, at base, perhaps with a mug of hot cocoa.
Researchers Rebecca and Tom will be conducting Antarctic research with this drone, with the goal of using radar on the drone to draw a picture of what’s under the ice sheets, to help predict how fast they could melt.
Think You Know Groundhog Day? Prove It!
Groundhog Day is a time to watch a furry little weather forecaster pop out of its burrow and predict whether winter will stick around — or if spring will arrive early. But how much do you really know about this quirky tradition, celebrated every year on Feb. 2?
From Punxsutawney Phil’s famous shadow sightings to surprising facts about groundhogs and their burrows, this quiz is packed with fun and a few tricky twists. It takes true shadow-sleuth skills to uncover all the surprises of Groundhog Day.
The article "The Origins and Meaning of Groundhog Day" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains the history and significance of Groundhog Day. It discusses how the tradition started, its roots in European festivals, and the role of Punxsutawney Phil in predicting the weather.
Research in Antarctica is important, but it’s not the most accessible place — have fun finding an Uber willing to take you (and your lab equipment) all the way there! Scientists no longer have to rely on foot travel, as they did decades ago, but taking to the air needs a bit of extra thought, because the technology has to work in Antarctica’s severe weather.
A promising solution is a new drone, tested in a part of North Wales known as “Snowdonia,” where the frigid temperatures put the drone through its cold weather paces. The drone has a few benefits — it doesn’t need a pilot on board (so it can go to remote places), it can travel up to 1000 km in one trip, and needs significantly less fuel than a normal plane. It does still need someone controlling it from the ground, but this can be from a computer, at base, perhaps with a mug of hot cocoa.
Researchers Rebecca and Tom will be conducting Antarctic research with this drone, with the goal of using radar on the drone to draw a picture of what’s under the ice sheets, to help predict how fast they could melt.
Think You Know Groundhog Day? Prove It!
Groundhog Day is a time to watch a furry little weather forecaster pop out of its burrow and predict whether winter will stick around — or if spring will arrive early. But how much do you really know about this quirky tradition, celebrated every year on Feb. 2?
From Punxsutawney Phil’s famous shadow sightings to surprising facts about groundhogs and their burrows, this quiz is packed with fun and a few tricky twists. It takes true shadow-sleuth skills to uncover all the surprises of Groundhog Day.
The article "The Origins and Meaning of Groundhog Day" from BBC's HistoryExtra explains the history and significance of Groundhog Day. It discusses how the tradition started, its roots in European festivals, and the role of Punxsutawney Phil in predicting the weather.