At the North Pole, anyway

Scientists May Soon Outnumber Penguins at Earth's Poles

Tens of thousands of scientists are zipping up their parkas for the latest International Polar Year initiative. The research endeavor, the third of its kind since 1882, is sending teams from 63 countries to the Antarctic and the Arctic in an unprecedented, billion-dollar exhibition of cold-weather geekery. The poles will be crawling with underwater gliders, robot observatories, and a laser-firing lidar (think '80s-era Pink Floyd shows). Here are a few of our favorite ice capades...