This winter, a major new telescope is being built at the South Pole to study deep questions about the history and composition of the universe. The 10-meter (33-foot) diameter South Pole Telescope (SPT) will be pieced together by a team of two dozen scientists, engineers, and technicians in record time. In a special series of four live webcasts, blogs, and video updates from the South Pole to the Exploratorium website in November and December 2006, follow along as a team of cosmologists from the University of Chicago and their colleagues race to complete their project before the short Antarctic season comes to a close.

The South Pole Telescope is one of the major scientific projects launching during the International Polar Year (IPY).

Beginning in December 2006, Webcast programs originating from the Exploratorium and streaming live on the Web, will feature climate scientists, authors, and Exploratorium senior scientists demonstrating and discussing the work being done to understand climate change, the impact of global warming on people and the environment, and ways individuals can get involved. Guests include Chris Mooney (December 13, 1 PM PST), author of The Republican War on Science and an upcoming book, Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics and the Battle Over Global Warming and Robert DeConto (December 15, 3 PM, PST),

Webcast Schedule, December 2006 (all times are Pacific Standard)

Fri, Dec 1
1:00 Understanding the Gulf Stream with Exploratorium staff scientist Charles Carlson
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Sat, Dec 2
10:00 Live from the South Pole: Instrumentation of the new telescope
3:00 Global Warming 101 with Exploratorium staff scientist Paul Doherty
Both shows in the Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Weds, Dec 6
1:00 About Life and its Processes with Karen Kalumuck
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Thurs, Dec 7
1:00 A fun demo about enzymes and other proteins functioning best at the proper temperature with Exploratorium staff scientist Karen Kalumack
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Fri, Dec 8
1:00 How increasing temperatures affects specific plants, and ecosystems with Exploratorium staff scientist Karen Kalumuck
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Sat, Dec 9
10:00 Live from the Pole: Science of the telescope/dark energy and matter
3:00 Global Warming101with Exploratorium staff scientist Paul Doherty
Both shows in the Exploratorium webcast studio

Dec 11-15
Ongoing conversations with Climate Scientists at AGU: audio/web only

Weds, Dec 13
1:00 Hurricanes, Global Warming and the politics of climate change with journalist Chris Mooney (author of The Republican War on Science)
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Fri, Dec 15
1:00 The Rough Guide to Climate Change, by meteorologist Bob Henson
3:00 Understanding Past Climates using Sediment Cores at McMurdo Station, Antarctica with Rob DeConto, paleoclimate scientist on the ANDRILL project
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Weds, Dec 20
1:00 The importance of ice with Exploratorium staff scientist Charles Carlson
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Fri, Dec 29
1:00 Global Warming FAQs with Exploratoriums Robyn Higdon
Exploratorium Webcast Studio

Sat, Dec 30
8:30am Live from the Pole: Telescope in action and future discoveries
Exploratorium Webcast Studio