What is it Like to Live in Antarctica? | Antarctic Extremes

Antarctica is cold, windy, isolated, barren, and often downright dangerous. Yet somehow, people manage to live there. (Some even enjoy it!)

People have been visiting Antarctica for over a century—and hosts Caitlin Saks and Arlo Pérez can actually see what living there used to be like, because some of the early explorers left all their stuff! Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated ship Endurance was only recently rediscovered, but the 1910-1913 expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott (more commonly known as the Terra Nova Expedition) left its “home-base” hut still intact, and it’s now a museum. Inside one finds all the trappings of early Antarctic life: seal blubber, science experiments, and of course a desiccated penguin.

Today, living in Antarctica is a bit different. But still, an eclectic band of scientists and support personnel are drawn to the continent and, every year, a crew makes their home on “the ice.” Starting at the U.S. Antarctic Program’s McMurdo Station and then while exploring Antarctica’s natural wonders—glaciers, a volcano, Weddell seals, and even weird fish–Arlo and Caitlin meet the people who find themselves in Antarctica year after year.

But will they be able to discover what it is about this icy, seemingly inhospitable place that’s so alluring to geologists, astrobiologists, and waste managers alike?

*****
*****

Hosted by Caitlin Saks and Arlo Pérez
Digital Producer/Editor: Emily Zendt
Producer: Caitlin Saks
Digital Associate Producer: Arlo Pérez
Field Director/Cinematographer: Zachary Fink
Executive Producer: Julia Cort
Coordinating Producer: Elizabeth Benjes
Project Director: Pamela Rosenstein
Production Assistance: Matthew Buckley, Emily Pattison, Sean Cuddihy
Audio Mix: Heart Punch Studio
Director of Audience Development: Dante Graves
Senior Digital Producer: Ari Daniel
Audience Engagement Editor: Sukee Bennett
Outreach Manager: Gina Varamo

Special thanks to Michael Amundson
Special thanks to the United States Antarctic Program

Additional Footage:
Brad Herried / Polar Geospatial Center
Music: APM

National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Draper. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers. Additional funding is provided by the NOVA Science Trust.

Major funding for this project is provided by the National Science Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Heising-Simons Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, the George D. Smith Fund, and the Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1713552. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Footage of seals was obtained under the authority of NMFS MMPA permit nos.1032-1917, 17236, & 21158

© WGBH Educational Foundation 2020

[ProdCashhier]

there's probably still that guy who wears shorts and a t-shirt all the time

[lyrical]

When I was like 5 I pictured Antarctica to be like this:
- no humans, maybe just documenters
- it would always be like -100° C
- no buildings
- penguins and polar bears everywhere
- igloos

[kat-jujb]

Those scientists had the brightest and most liveliest eyes. Must be amazing to study such an incredible place.

[sadiqmohamed]

This is the nearest these people will get to travelling to another planet.

[cailineireann]

I think living there for a few months would be one of the greatest experiences!! Life is about experiences, not things

[heyheyheyh]

Unbelievable just absolute crazy, I had no idea that this much work was actually happening at Antartica. I was convinced that Antartica just had a few scientists scattered over the place eating beans haha.

[sundogsmusic]

Enjoyed the film, and it resonated with me; I spent two seasons down there with the British Antarctic Survey, the second season doing deep field research as a field guide with a geologist. Three months in a tent, travelled 600kms on skidoo and sledge and six separate camps, just the two of us, traveled over some glaciers as first humans ever - a memorable trip indeed!

[SkinneeHippo]

I love how they have a fire station in antarctica 🤣

[Artofficial]

Aww he used to be a mechanic.. "I worked on the Space Shuttle" 😐

[andrewbest]

0:46 was not expecting a scientist to have the name of Michael Jackson that's awesome

[stephenkoss]

There’s no way Michael Jackson is down in Antarctica

[ejon]

Life on the most isolated place on Earth is less isolated than the life I'm living. They really seem to enjoy life down there in the southern south.

[dawnmorgan]

I have a friend working to make tools there now, for 6 months and this is his 2nd adventure to Antartica in one year! With cheering him on, I realized I needed to brush up on my understanding of what life is really like there. Thanks for your very enjoyable and educational video. Love it!

[justcurious]

I'm so glad they showed the wildlife! The seals. It makes one realize that mammals can survive on that part of our Earth.

[sifatbinaziz]

0:54 "Scott actually reached, but a norwegian beat him there..." You guys should have mentioned the Norwegians name. He is Roald Amundsen, the man who first reached the south pole not by heavy ships or any monerch sponsor nor any of hundred crews. He journied all by himself and with 19 men and achieved it.

[DOGakaDefenderOfGems]

I envy how relaxed they all seem to be...relaxation is something we have all forgotten how to do in a busy world...I am going to make an effort again...thanks for the inspiration.

[neutralevil]

Can't stop thinking about The Thing

[SoundFieldPBS]

That penguin is cool, was not expecting that when i click. P.S. Sound Field sent me!

[FluffyFluffles]

I'm hooked on this series. Very interesting and well done. Plus I love Caitlin's hair.

[r.j.sworkshop]

Things break in McM that I have never seen break before. It makes a mechanics life interesting. And the word that I have used for years is dumpy, a dumpy little mining town. Look forward to the next one.