How We Got to Antarctica | Antarctic Extremes

Antarctica: It’s the home of penguins, seals, and a weird, rusty-looking glacial waterfall called Blood Falls. It’s the most remote natural laboratory on Earth-which means getting there is no easy feat.
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In the premiere episode of Antarctic Extremes, join hosts Caitlin Saks and Arlo Pérez as they follow in the footsteps of the brave scientists that have made McMurdo Station, an otherworldly Antarctic outpost, their research base and their second home. Five days, 12,000 miles, and seven time zones with hundreds of pounds of camera gear in tow, Caitlin and Arlo temporarily leave their day jobs as NOVA producers and go on a mind-boggling journey to the bottom of the world. They fly halfway across the planet, pick up extreme cold-weather gear (and gloves made specially for wiping away snot), and learn to withstand the -50° F Antarctic autumn temperatures. But as they touch down on Antarctic ice in a massive U.S. Air Force C-17, Caitlin and Arlo realize their epic journey is far from over.
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Hosted by Caitlin Saks and Arlo Pérez
Editor: Rob Tinworth
Producer: Caitlin Saks
Digital Associate Producer/Assistant Editor: Arlo Pérez
Field Director/Cinematographer: Zachary Fink
Executive Producer: Julia Cort
Coordinating Producer: Elizabeth Benjes
Project Director: Pamela Rosenstein
Additional Editor: Emily Zendt
Post Production: Jay Colamaria
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: Michael H. Amundson
Special thanks to the United States Antarctic Program
Additional Footage: Alasdair Turner, Britney Schmidt, Denys Grombacher, Jay Rotella, JPL-Caltech, Mary Lynn Price, McMurdo Oceanographic Observatory, Mitch Butler, NASA, Paul Cziko, Robert Robbins, Robert Simmon, Steven Rupp, UNIT, University of Arizona, USGS
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

[@besmart]

Congrats on an awesome first episode! Excited to see more

[@uchaaki]

Thanks for showing us this channel! Subscribed already 👍🏽

[@ArloPerez]

Thank you Joe!!

[@ManuelHernandez-ue8ei]

I'm glad I finally got a good notification, subscribed thanks Joe 👍

[@sagarnegi9464]

Thank you Joe

[@josephtixier2404]

Joe from Joe, Roger!

[@1Stevencat]

How is this not huge? It's seems so polished and all the camera shots are freaking awesome. The interactions between everyone is great. Should have tons more subs!

[@0HARE]

Agreed!

[@karentsd]

Same! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 so beautifully done ❤

[@biggibbs4678]

It's made by PBS. They don't know how to promote their own stuff.

[@KQEDDeepLook]

This looks SO great. Can't wait to follow Caitlin and Arlo across the ice. :-)

[@MarcusRitland]

Here from Deep Look!!

[@realzachfluke1]

Marcus here from Space Time with Matt O’Dowd 🔥👌😏✊

[@djfelixxuk9798]

@@realzachfluke1 ju

[@realzachfluke1]

@@djfelixxuk9798 juju

[@novapbs]

We

[@Alexander-is9jo]

You're seeing stuff others can't even imagine. I'm really excited for this series and kinda jealous lol If Antarctica ever needs a psychologist I'll be there first line.

[@ArloPerez]

Thank you so much Alexander, it really means a lot that people are liking the series! And there are tons of ways to go and work in Antarctica, so definitely keep an eye on that

[@Alexander-is9jo]

@@ArloPerez I definitely will after finishing my studies

[@071519]

Finish your studies and head down there to work supporting science!

[@pbsterra]

❄️🐧❄️

[@SolaceEasy]

When in Antarctica, be sure to read all the instruction manuals.

[@stevechapo327]

Very guy way to pitch a tent made me laugh. Informative and entertaining. Good job.

[@luispaternina179]

I'd like to assert in the most polite way that PBS Space Time sent me here. It was an amazing first chapter. xD

[@realzachfluke1]

hahahaha same

[@biancabm90]

Now THIS is the kind of content I love to watch on KZbin! Joe from “It’s Okay to be Smart” sent me here and I don't regret one bit!

[@thenakedcableguy]

Space time with a great recommendation. Really interesting.

[@alejandrovillalobos8713]

Joe says high.

[@AtmosphericSpace868]

I’m a 13 year old boy and a few years ago I just loved watching these episodes, there are so many fascinating things about Antarctica. I actually am going in about a year!

[@stevenqirkle]

Space Time sent me, and now I’m subscribed! It’s awesome to see such high quality content on KZbin. Available for anyone in the world to watch.

[@benderrodriguez142]

Off to a good start with this video. I am always excited to see PBS embrace the digital media more and more and continue to bring us great channels.

[@solopine9624]

Thanks for the recommendation Joe!

[@YouLostTheGame333]

Barely 2 minutes in and I already love this. Liked and subscribed! Thanks for showing us this, Joe!

[@Can-O-Bees]

Physics Girl brought me here. Instantly subscribed and looking forward to right now binge all your videos.

[@ambulocetusnatans]

Me too. I thought she said "anarchic extremes" and I was ready for some radical politics.

[@panchor]

@@ambulocetusnatans Shut the fuck up, libtard.

[@naughtystun4704]

Me too

[@kawsarmohammed7905]

Me too

[@gelgaitos7546]

I'm binge watching this channel. I learn so much. I love how I have glimpse of life in antarctica. I would like to see an episode where they cover where and how to acquirr necessities such as sanitary pads and toiletries, or treat an ailment or a hospital setting maybe.

[@Shinzon23]

"from the quartermaster/supply manager" and "air evacuation if it isn't something easily treated that doesn't require surgery or overly specialized equipment, and if you aren't too deep into the 9 month Winter period" would be the answers to those questions.

[@damien6685]

Came on the recommendation of Eon So glad I did

[@richardluchsinger3905]

Wow, I can’t believe how much different it is now compared to 1966/7 when I spent 377 days on the ice.

[@UglyApprentice]

I'm a student studying Environmental Science, going to Iceland soon for a fieldwork program, and really want to go to Antarctica one day. This looks so incredible.

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

Feels strange being such a new subscriber (229) on a PBS channel. Looking forward to future shows - I'm sure it'll be fantastic ✌️

[@PaddyOutback]

Great stuff. Can't wait to see more! As I sweat through an Australian Summer, I really like the looks of Antarctica at the moment.....

[@daisychain3007]

I am afraid that she's wrong in the beginning of the video when she says that the sun never sets in Antarctica. It does set in its winter of April to August and does not rise again until September. It remains completely dark between April and August and the Arctic is the same in its own winter (October to February.)

[@LoveTrueMusic1]

@@daisychain3007 I think she was referring to while they were there

[@blaize8385]

4:35 Welcome to Hoth on Earth.

[@joelmorningstar3645]

Space Time said to be polite, but I'm rudely surprised by how good this content is!

[@Frithgar]

Eons ordered me here, glad I stuck my head in the door now :)

[@dull_demon4717]

Same

[@UpcycleElectronics]

I'm here. I subscribed. I blame Matt O'Dowd. It's really great to see such a large commitment to planned content like this on KZbin. Thanks! From the brief little clip in this video, that sounded like Nick Zentner. I wish PBS would pursue him far far further. I have watched every single lecture he has posted from the University of Washington in Ellensburg, and I'm 1k miles away in Los Angeles. He is such a great lecturer and story teller. Seriously, I wish PBS would make it possible to watch all of his public lectures. ....not to take away from this project though. These two kids in Antarctica is interesting too. Thanks for taking this disabled guy places to see things I will never be able to otherwise. -Jake

[@Galebreth]

What an experience that would be! Antarctica is so majestic

[@EricGulliver]

AWESOME job, guys. I am thrilled to continue watching and follow the journey!! Yay for team Nova.

[@dinakasper7575]

On the ice for the '00-'01 season and everything is the exactly the same, including that feeling. Thumbs up on making it look as cool as it is!

[@caitlinsaks4910]

Thanks Dina! It means a lot to us to hear that the folks who have been on the ice think that we did a good job capturing the feeling. And LOL.... Why am I not surprised that it feels the same today as it did 20 years ago.

[@MrMikeWyn]

Amazing! Thanks, PBS NOVA for these episodes.

[@isaachenderson3830]

PBS Eons sent me here, now I can binge more PBS!

[@josevenegas9191]

What a fantastic journey, congratulations. Joe sent me ✌

[@sully4264]

I love this series! Love that you interviewed the supporting staff that help make it all work for the scientists.

[@madam_mim]

I'm so happy Joe sent me here!

[@FluffyFluffles]

Here because of Physics Girl, can't wait to see more!

[@ameristanbouli5063]

+1

[@dewalt4594]

NOBODY sent me here. I just couldn't sleep , so I punched in Antarctica and then I picked a video to watch. It certainly didn't help me get to sleep and now I'm hooked. Great stuff to watch , thank you for your time an efforts. Thank you for sharing.

[@maggielin71]

This seems so cool!!! I love the clear graphics and funny narraton that provides top-notch information to us in a way that it doesn't feel boring at all in every one of PBS series videos. Keep up the good work guys! ^=^

[@ArloPerez]

Thank you Maggie!!!

[@emmabeeson9884]

You guys are amazing! Can’t wait to watch the rest of the series. ❤️ NOVA

[@Yoarashi]

0:16 "this is not what we expected" *rolls eyes in laplandic*

[@afunnymonkey4948]

Excited to see this channel grow! This video was amazing

[@DavidKensiski]

Great episode! Thanks to PBS Space Time for sending me over.

[@xpgx1]

Hello from PBS Space Time ;D // A surprisingly fresh and pretty cool (no pun intended XP) episode! Thx

[@GiddyThis]

Came here from pbs spacetime, subscribed and excited for more episodes

[@jmradosta]

What an exciting adventure! Can't wait to watch more of Caitlin and Arlo's discoveries!

[@andyrint]

Matt from PBS SpaceTime sent me here - politely. Cool 1st episode, looking forward to more...

[@grim523]

Here from Space Time, best of luck guys, already subscribed and will follow your progress ;)

[@clair_high]

I just came across your videos because of Diana, Physics Girl, and I’m really excited to watch the rest. My wife’s grandfather was a radio operator for the Navy in the 50s at McMurdo Station.

[@avinshetty7502]

Incredible!! Keep up the good work!!! This channel looks exciting!

[@jerry3790]

Going to Antarctica is definitely on my bucket list. There are flights there from the City I live so maybe it’s not so far off!

[@hafizajiaziz8773]

Where are you from? New Zealand? Chile?

[@PeacockEarings]

I'm so jealous! Antarctica is my goal destination but I don't want up be a tourist. I'd love to do research there.

[@ArloPerez]

Definitely look into it! It's a great experience, and I recommend it to anyone. What kind of research would you like to do?

[@PeacockEarings]

@@ArloPerez paleoclimatology of some sort would be great

[@septitais]

Matt from Space Time sent me here. This looks like it could be very interesting!

[@juliebullard8638]

What an incredible experience! Awesome camera work! I'm excited to see the rest of the series :)

[@craigwilkie1022]

I just found this series of videos, it looks awesome so far, I will watch all of them. Thanks guys.

[@FiveTrackTape]

Dianna sent me! Came for the spoons @12:59, was not disappointed.

[@wildnye]

This is amazing, thank you so much!

[@shalithavikum540]

So glad youtube suggested this.Beautiful work.kudos to everyone involved.

[@brandonrugzie]

This is so fascinating! Can't wait for more!

[@jamescooper1848]

PBS Space Time sent me. Looking forward to seeing more :D

[@angier_love3]

Enjoying the content, subscribed! Love the vlog style vibes. Great job!!

[@RedDeadSakharine]

Great footage, and superb narration! Absolutely love this!

[@AlenaMcMahan]

They're such a positive and fun bunch. Love it.

[@mousevision661]

Idk how I have never seen this series before. It is FANTASTIC

[@mostafasultan3049]

Wow i am so excited about it I actually like the Antarctic so much I hope to go there one day Good luck you will be great

[@caitlinsaks4910]

It was only in our wildest dreams that Arlo and I thought we'd get to go to Antarctica. It's amazing... and if you put your mind to it, I am sure you can get there. In one of our upcoming episodes, we will explore how a lot of the people working at McMurdo Station aren't actually scientists!

[@mostafasultan3049]

@@caitlinsaks4910 I can't believe you replied to me that a lot and I am sure everyone will achieve their dreams if they put the right efforts and I can't wait to see this video I am from Egypt BTW 😊❤

[@ArloPerez]

Ooooh! Glad to know we have a fan of the series from Egypt. I would love to visit someday (maybe Saharan Extremes can be the next season? :P )

[@ufoundbethany]

Another great piece by the PBS brand. I'm a bit late in discovery, but glad I found it. I was catching up on some past Eons episodes I had missed, and the one on the Green Sahara sent me here. One advantage of coming late though is the opportunity to check out your channel and see what else I missed!

[@Tealin]

I was with the Artists & Writers this year and am missing Antarctica terribly, so it was really great (and bittersweet!) to see this ... and especially Elaine! Thank you so much for all your hard work putting it together - that's exactly how McMurdo is and you've captured it beautifully.

[@Tealin]

P.S. 203C represent!! They're tearing it down next month so your video is a nice little time capsule. :)

[@caitlinsaks4910]

Thank you for the kind comment!

[@r.j.sworkshop7883]

Great first episode. It is so nice to see my old home again, however, I did chuckle when you said "we are going to be here for a whole month!" The real monotony doesn't set in until about month four, then it is Ground Hog Day again. Look forward to the next one.

[@caitlinsaks4910]

I suppose your right about the duration... A month sounded to us like it would be a long time at first, but once we got there, it wasn't nearly enough! We ended up not sleeping very much... most of those amazing scenic shots were filmed in the middle of the night when the sunlight was prettiest.

[@daisychain3007]

What is Ground Hog Day, R.J.?

[@LoveTrueMusic1]

@@daisychain3007 This is in reference to a 1993 movie of the same name starring Bill Murray, in which the premise is Bill Murray repeating the same day again and again

[@Oscar4u69]

this is beautiful and so inspiring. that moment when you said you thought you couldn't do it, hit hard, because at some point in our lives we always reach a moment like that... and that's the moment we can demonstrate to ourselves that we, in fact, can do it

[@caitlinsaks4910]

Thanks rodrigo. When we set out on this trip... well, I'll just say that this was NOT what we had planned for the first episode. But this is was our reality, and that feeling was 100% genuine (especially that first week). One of the scientists we met down there told us over dinner -- during one of those miserable days that we were stranded inside due to weather that first week -- that everybody who comes to Antarctica fails at some level. Basically saying: "welcome to Antarctica, get used to the idea that things are not going to go according to plan." That is what punched me in the gut. It's when I realized that the process of doing science down there is really brutally hard. Because stuff breaks, weather happens, you're on an absurdly tight schedule, you have only a small team to problem solve everything... And so much is out of your control. And we were in the exact same boat as these scientists -- just trying to get footage instead of scientific data. But... then, it was really truly empowering to start to figure it all out. Most rewarding and most challenging thing I've ever done. I hope you stay tuned for the rest of the series and you can be the judge of whether or not "we did it."

[@joshwhite6743]

I'm SO jealous! I came here from PBS Space-time!

[@sealofapoorval7437]

I came here on my own! I love this series on antartictica! Its very calm and serene and makes for some really beautiful dreams!

[@jtruant]

Space Time sent me! Great first episode!

[@marius10ster]

This is by far the best thing I've come across on the internet.

[@kcpth]

I've grown up watching PBS & NOVA.... this is going to be awesome!

[@MartinFelice]

Beautyful, I´m in love with Antarctica, one of my dreams is to visit it. So thanks for doing this!

[@EW-go1xw]

Excited to watch! "Joe sent me"😉

[@taumanifesto7065]

Spacetime for the win! I'm glad he sent me great stuff! Subbed

[@angelaschnelly]

This is amazing to say the least. Can't wait to see what else you two are up against, and have to show us all!

[@niilovaananen3215]

I don't know how all these great shows are free but damn its nice

[@NightWatchersPet]

Well, this is ALL kinds of exciting!! Looking forward to following what happens

[@AlperSozen]

Spacetime told matter how to move, then I found myself here. Anybody else from my decoherent branch?

[@vladbcom]

So happy I found this channel!!!!

[@eviehankins8223]

I am really digging these Antarctica episodes :D

[@anitadelgigante2126]

loved it. well done.

[@FedericoAltolaguirre]

Came from PBS spacetime. Liked and subscribed

[@nomadorco3957]

one of the best documentaries!

[@P-G-77]

Really good, EXCELLENT work. !! Grazie.

[@israelherrera5144]

a procrastination induced youtube dive brought me here and i’m very happy it did, cool to see someone i can relate to doing the things i always saw people on tv doing

[@KynaByrd]

I'm so excited for this. I have applied to many positions at McMurdo in the past year-- I know they're so competitive and my likelihood of getting a job is small, but it is still my biggest dream. I'm excited to live vicariously through this channel, thank you so much for doing this!

[@caitlinsaks4910]

That's so exciting! Will you keep us posted? Arlo loved it there so much that he started asking around about how much the dishwashers make... I was afraid I might not get him to leave! Also, stay tuned... because we have a few episodes in the series dedicated to showing what life in McMurdo is like (after the initial awe and disorientation rubs off), and we try to show a bit of the contractor perspective (as opposed to the scientist perspective).

[@KynaByrd]

@@caitlinsaks4910 I will absolutely keep y'all posted! I can't wait for the McMurdo life episode. 😍

[@KonekoEalain]

A polite hello from a Space Time fan, definitely excited for this series as well!

[@NemoK]

Okay, okay, be polite... SPACE TIME SENT ME. Oh no I messed it up didn't I oh no oh no oh no...

[@fenwickrysen]

That was polite enough. Hello, you folks WAY WAY WAY down under.

[@chaitanyadevale3665]

Directly from 2cents... Loved it!!

[@chrissscottt]

Nice camera work.

[@ArloPerez]

I'll let Zac know he has a fan :P Thank you so much!

[@RicoChavez1]

PBS Eons sent me. Keep it up! Can't wait to see more!

[@staircapades]

8:18 That look she gave when he says "died of exposure", you can see her questioning her decision haha.

[@0HARE]

Great new series. Let’s go!

[@larsalfredhenrikstahlin8012]

Spacetime sent me. Also, Matt from the PBS show Spacetime told me to watch this show. Random words in a comment + like to increase algorithm probabilities. Have not watched this show yet but I approve of more science videos in peoples feeds. And people need to know how our polar caps are doing. aaaaalgorithm. Algorithm. AAAALGOOORIIIThm algorithmus Bye. THanks

[@sirpenguinscott]

I have always wanted to go to Antarctica for a summer. This may be the closest I'll ever come to that experience. Very excited.

[@actuatedg3rm]

I could watch videos like these all day

[@viennperidot1119]

My hometown is the gateway for NZ/USA Antarctic Exploration. I worked at a big supermarket there miss the looks on peoples' faces when they'd just come back to 'Civilization' after a tour down there. They looked like they'd gone Bush for a bit

[@SpiritAscending]

Joe from “It’s Okay to be Smart” sent me.

[@goeft]

Arrived here via PBS Eons, so glad to find you sharing this adventure in Antarctica!