Exploratorium Celebrates Ice Stories

Antarctica is a vast, wild continent of snow and ice; boasting the driest desert and the coldest temperatures on the planet. Join the Exploratorium as it ventures to the bottom of the world for a series of webcasts, live events, and demonstrations.

In celebration of the International Polar Year (2007-2008), the Exploratorium’s Live@ crew will be talking with scientists at McMurdo Station and the South Pole about the myriad of research being done there. Meet scientists pulling giant cores of ice from miles down, watch as penguins dive under the ice, and see scientists reach for the sky with their weather balloons! Learn about the giant trap under the ice that catches the tiniest particles from outer space, and a new 10-meter telescope at the South Pole.

Scheduled webcasts include Sunday, December 2 at 2pm; Sunday, December 9 at 2pm; Friday, December 14; Time TBA; Friday, December 21; Time TBA; and Friday, December 28, Time TBA. Made possible by the National Science Foundation. These programs and the continuation of webcasts in January will be shown at www.exploratorium.edu/icestories. Make sure to check the schedule for updates.

In addition to the webcasts from the Poles, the Exploratorium features some related events for the public, including an Antarctic Landscape of Sweet Ice, artist-in-residence Henry Kaiser from Antarctica, and the Physics of Toys with a polar theme. They include:

Saturday, December 8 - Sweet Ice: Antarctic Dreamscape by Citizen Cake

Watch a magical Antarctic dreamscape come to life! Celebrity chef Elizabeth Falkner, owner of ingredients. Known for her artistic flair and frequently featured on national television, Falkner is the author of the newly published cookbook, Demolition Desserts: Recipes from Citizen Cake. She lives in San Francisco, the home of her three restaurants: Citizen Cake, Citizen Cupcake, and Orson.

Sunday, December 9 - Under the Antarctic Sea with Artist Henry Kaiser

One of the most creative and innovative guitarists, improvisers, and producers in the fields of rock, jazz, and experimental music, Oakland-based Henry Kaiser is also one of the most extensively recorded, having appeared on more than 225 different albums. A Grammy Award winner, Mr. Kaiser frequently performs throughout the USA, Europe, and Japan. He first traveled to McMurdo Station in 2001. He recently worked as producer and underwater cameraman for Discovery Channel International on Werner Herzog's new Antarctic feature film, Encounters at the End of the World. -- www.exploratorium.edu

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