Is this Polar Pod genius or just plain insanity?
Is this Polar Pod genius or just plain insanity? avatar

People come up with all sorts of wacky ideas to explore the oceans. And here is another one of those ideas. Meet the Polar Pod, a manned research platform dreamed up by French Explorer/Physician Jean-Louis Etienne to drift around Antarctica in the Southern Ocean. My first thought when I saw this concept was WTF. . . . → Read More: Is this Polar Pod genius or just plain insanity?

Is this Polar Pod genius or just plain insanity? avatar

Break through 2 months of Antarctic sea ice in 5 minutes
Break through 2 months of Antarctic sea ice in 5 minutes avatar

Love, love, love, love this video. Marine scientist Cassandra Brooks strapped a camera to the front of NSF’s icebreaker the Nathaniel B. Palmer as it sailed for two months through the ice-choked Ross Sea off Antartica. But unlike her, you don’t have to sit through two-months of ice smashing while fighting your shipmates for the . . . → Read More: Break through 2 months of Antarctic sea ice in 5 minutes

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New field blog: Imaging the Arctic
New field blog: Imaging the Arctic avatar

Art and science. Their paths don’t always cross, but when they do the results can be absolutely stunning. And this is exactly why I am highlighting the wonderful new collaboration by scientist Kristin Laidre and artist Maria Coryell-Martin, “Imaging the Arctic. ” It is an elegant field blog based around Dr. Laidre’s fieldwork with Narwhals . . . → Read More: New field blog: Imaging the Arctic

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Quick! Someone call the Fashion Police.
Quick! Someone call the Fashion Police. avatar

The Head of the FP herself.Source: Wikimedia Commons We have a fashion emergency. White after labor day? No. Horizontal stripes? Not exactly. Wardrobe malfunction? Definitely No. Too much skin showing at the Grammys despite CBS’s best efforts to keep those scandalous celebs on the straight and narrow? No…oh wait….Yes…but not the example I was referring . . . → Read More: Quick! Someone call the Fashion Police.

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Is Marianas Trench A Lifeless Void?
Is Marianas Trench A Lifeless Void? avatar

When he made his historic solo dive into the Mariana Trench last month, James Cameron brought back images and descriptions of a “lunar like” marine landscape nearly devoid of life.-via National Geographic Returning from humankind’s first solo dive to the deepest spot in the ocean, filmmaker James Cameron said he saw no obvious signs of . . . → Read More: Is Marianas Trench A Lifeless Void?

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“Icy Inverts” 2013 Cruise – Scientific Adventures in Antarctic Waters
“Icy Inverts” 2013 Cruise – Scientific Adventures in Antarctic Waters avatar

Genomics, Biodiversity, and Antarctica – three of my favourite things! For all you expedition junkies, these three things are exactly the focus of the 2013 “Ivy Inverts” cruise. My Gulf oil spill collaborator at Auburn University, Ken Halanych (along with an international team of students and colleagues), is currently steaming towards Antarctica aboard the Research . . . → Read More: “Icy Inverts” 2013 Cruise – Scientific Adventures in Antarctic Waters

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New expedition: Stunning cinematography from Rutgers Antarctic Quest
New expedition: Stunning cinematography from Rutgers Antarctic Quest avatar

I was pretty excited when I learned about Rutger’s expedition to Antarctica. But I am now STOKED after watching their teaser trailer. A beautiful video about science in Antarctica, the wide variety of tools they are using and why it is important. Seriously, can I come along too? I’ll tag penguins any day. Follow along . . . → Read More: New expedition: Stunning cinematography from Rutgers Antarctic Quest

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Notes from the field: Observing the ocean from dry land
Notes from the field: Observing the ocean from dry land avatar

  The HF radar transmit tower watches over the frozen Chukchi Sea at Point Lay. We mark ‘em with bright orange reflective tape so snowmobilers don’t hit them. I apologize, as this post is a little belated. I have been back from a trip to take down a seasonal HF Radar array on the North . . . → Read More: Notes from the field: Observing the ocean from dry land

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We Need an Ocean NASA Now Pt.3
We Need an Ocean NASA Now Pt.3 avatar

For too long ocean exploration has suffered from chronic underfunding and the lack of an independent agency with a dedicated mission. Here, Al Dove and I call for the creation of a NASA-style agency to ensure the future health of US ocean science and exploration. The Ghost of Ocean Science Future that We Want to . . . → Read More: We Need an Ocean NASA Now Pt.3

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We Need an Ocean NASA Now Pt.1
We Need an Ocean NASA Now Pt.1 avatar

For too long ocean exploration has suffered from chronic underfunding and the lack of an independent agency with a dedicated mission. Here, Al Dove and I call for the creation of a NASA-style agency to ensure the future health of US ocean science and exploration. Over a decade ago, one of us (CM) made his . . . → Read More: We Need an Ocean NASA Now Pt.1

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