Antarctic Exploration: Discoveries at the South Pole
Lesson Express
Q: What type of research are the volcanologists conducting?
A: They are measuring the gases that bubble out of the volcano to understand how they impact the air. They are observing the molten rock below.
Q: Why did scientists launch the balloon?
A: They are measuring cosmic rays, tiny particles from the beginning of time that are just now reaching Earth.
Q: What are scientists learning about Antarctica? What do we still not know about Antarctica?
A: Scientists are learning how much ice is in Antarctica. We do not know a lot about the interior, how much ice there is, and what is under the ice.
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In Weddell Seal Pups: Surviving Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals the challenges newborn seal pups face in one of the harshest environments on Earth. From enduring subzero temperatures and blizzards to entering the icy water for the first time, every decision impacts their survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.



In The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the Southern Ocean and the humpback whales that feed there. When Antarctica broke off from South America, it created swirling currents that sweep up nutrients from the bottom of the ocean, making it one of the richest waters on earth. In the summer, humpback whales come there to feast on shoals of krill, blowing curtains of bubbles and spiraling inwards to capture the swarm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.

In Weddell Seal Pups: Surviving Antarctica, narrator Sir David Attenborough reveals the challenges newborn seal pups face in one of the harshest environments on Earth. From enduring subzero temperatures and blizzards to entering the icy water for the first time, every decision impacts their survival. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.

