An Antarctic probe into dark matter, and the new age of Polar Gothic

While some scientists in Antarctica probe downwards into dark abysses, others are now peering upwards (or outwards), using that polar vantage point to poke into dark matter.  Why use the South Pole?

Humidity in the atmosphere would distort signals the telescope receives and, thus, the picture it makes. But there is very little water vapor at the South Pole. Even though the pole sits on a massive, million-year buildup of ice 10,000 feet deep, the area is a natural desert -- the air is dry and it almost never snows.

In addition, because of the tilt of the Earth's axis, the pole for nearly half the year is bathed in 24-hour-a-day darkness. That allows researchers to focus the telescope continuously on one part of the sky for long periods.

Combine this with recent North Pole weirdness, from scientists worrying about north Polar exploration surfacing ancient microbes to the dueling submersible national ambitions, add it to the growing tradition of winter Gothic, mix in mysterious Cold War relics, and perhaps we're entering a new age of polar Gothic delights.  Consider, for example, the telescope's blog, as a web 2.0 storytelling starting point.

(thanks to Azathoth-worshiping Steve Burnett)

Comments

[Steve B]

The really funny thing is I had an idea for a Lovecraftian-filtered view of the world blog last week, registered the domain as too good not to while I pondered it, then found four things in three days as new material that'd be relevant if I was writing such a blog. As if I needed a new project.

[Cayden]

You know what, speaking of winter gothic, check out this ARGish trailhead I recently stumbled upon: http://www.norwegianfilmcommittee.org/

It's rather high production and I think you'd like it a lot. : )

[HP]

I had forgotten this during the previous Winter Gothic thread, but the science angle reminded me of it. It's the wrong pole for this thread, but:

A sound, a humming, a crackling somewhere inside your head. And there are times when you'd swear it's a voice talking to you -- talking in some kind of strange language you can almost understand, filling your whole being with a kind of desperate, inescapable terror.

"Northern Lights," another great audio drama from Wyllis Cooper for Lights Out.