Antarctica Exposed
Last spring the British Antarctic Survey put together the most detailed map of what Antarctica looks like beneath all its ice and snow. The map, which comes from seismic, bathymetric, and satellite data, reveals that a trough beneath Byrd Glacier is 1300 feet deeper than anyone had thoughtat 1.8 miles deep, it's the lowest point on any continent.
 Meteorite Mecca
Meteorites suffer less damage when they impact snow and are easier to find against the white backdrop, making the continent the top spot for space-rock hunters. Scientists are studying the 50,000 extraterrestrial rocks collected from the Transantarctic Mountains to learn about the materials that make up asteroids and planets, as well as what conditions were like in our solar system's early days.
 Extreme Life-Forms
In January scientists discovered microbes living in Lake Whillans, a shallow body of water buried under a half-mile of ice. In perpetual darkness and cold, the bacterial ecosystem likely has been isolated from the surface for thousands of years.
 Lab on Ice
As the Brunt Ice Shelf slowly migrates toward the sea, it has left the Halley V Research Station in danger of floating away on an iceberg. The new Halley VI station (Tech Watch, May 2013) is fitted onto skis so it can periodically be towed inland to safety.
 Cool Running
Every year people from all over the world don snowsuits to run the Antarctic Ice Marathon.
With warm ocean currents streaming beneath it, and warm air above, Pine Island is sliding into the sea at 2.5 miles per year, making it Antarctica's fastest melting glacier.
 Snowy Hotspot
The South Shetland Islands house research stations from a dozen countries. About 50,000 tourists also visit the islands annually to explore magnificent desolation.