Mile-thick ice. Dry, rocky valleys. Tiny creatures. Red parkas. Seal mummies. We’re going to Antarctica with National Geographic Explorer, microscopic photographer, and Antarcticologist Ariel Waldman. She hosts the gorgeous PBS series “Life Unearthed” and answers a blizzard of questions about camping in the middle of an ice sheet, hauling microscopes to the ends of the Earth, what’s living in a drop of melted snow, potty protocols, microplastics, and the research that happens on a giant continent that carries many mysteries. Also: why you should cold email someone. Like, today. 

Visit Ariel’s website and follow her on Instagram, YouTube, and Bluesky

Watch Life Unearthed with Ariel Waldman on PBS 

A donation went to the San Francisco Microscopical Society

Other episodes you may enjoy: Cryoseismology (ICEQUAKES), Oceanology (OCEANS), Snow Hydrology (SNOW/AVALANCHES), Tardigradology (TINY SEMI-INDESTRUCTIBLE WATER BEAR MOSS PIGLET CREATURES CALLED TARDIGRADES), Penguinology (PENGUINS), Pinnipedology (SEALS & WALRUSES), Dipterology (FLIES), Carcinology (CRABS), Ursinology (BEARS), Astrobiology (ALIENS), Thermophysiology (BODY HEAT)

Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.