Dehydration, hypothermia, frostbite, sunburn of the eyes, trench foot ... there's no shortage of hazards in the Antarctic. When it comes to packing your gear, light is definitely not the way to go!

Why are there over 100 types of map projections? Because translating a globe onto a flat surface usually requires some compromise—cartographers must distort some features in order to preserve others.

While out at sea, Shipp's ship hit a windstorm that was nasty by anyone's definition—wind speeds of 80 knots (70 mph). Learn why it's not uncommon for wind speeds to reach 200 mph in Antarctica.

In Antarctica, the Sun never sets during the summer or rises during the winter. But do you know why? Learn the answer from a researcher who summers in the land of constant daylight.

Why in the world would anyone spend five weeks trekking into the dark Antarctic winter to bring back a few penguin eggs? Find out, and learn just how harsh the journey was for this three-person team.

"Keeping a good journal is kind of like having an extra brain," says this glacial geologist. Find out what Shipp records in her second brain when she's conducting field research in Antarctica. 

Despite extremely harsh conditions, about 3,500 people go to work in Antarctica each year. And the number of research applications is on the rise. What, exactly, is so alluring about Antarctica?

Unlike human visitors, Antarctica's plants and animals don't require high-tech gear. How have these organisms adapted to thrive—not just survive—in such an extreme environment?

Even during the summer months, the temperatures on Antarctica's coast range around freezing. Inland, it's even chillier. Discover the three reasons why this continent is the coldest place on Earth.

Climb aboard this virtual expedition, and take charge of the ship's controls. You'll travel a 40-kilometer (24.8-mile) stretch of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, looking for a deep sea vent.