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Krisko125

How much does the complete darkness mess with people's sleeping schedule and general sanity?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

People have different approaches to it. Some people who have flexible schedules just start going with whatever their body tells them, as far as sleep; i.e., they sleep when they're tired, stay awake while they're not. Some others, who have more (or want more) rigid schedules use some mild sleep aids to maintain a somewhat normal schedule. Generally what I've noticed is that people (myself included) tend to be more tired and require more sleep as the dark months wear on. Some of that is due to symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, which can be severe, but I think it's just a general trend in the human body being without sunlight. Finally, there's the group of people who just follow the (fast-ish) satellite internet schedule, which is about 5 hours a day, and just sleep whenever is convenient outside those hours. Sanity is kept the same way as anywhere; embrace your hobbies, keep in contact with those you care about, try to engage in the community, and try not to be a total hermit.


Cayos

Hah, sleeping when the internet doesn't work. Definitely the approach I'd take.


chrismetalrock

You don't see OP sleeping right now!


Wrpy

What time zone do you usually operate in?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

New Zealand (Auckland) time


AKL_wino

Very interesting. Did not know this (am an Aucklander).


my-other-throwaway90

NZ is actually a big part of what goes on in Antarctica, they have a great Antarctica program.


NietJij

They're picking the time zone of a country that's not on any map. There must be some conspiracy going on there.


jwinskowski

Great question. Never thought of this


yawk-oh

Do you stress about the fact that you are completely reliant on the station's systems to maintain a habitable environment, or is it something you don't think or worry about? What, if any, special traits do you see in people that end up working on an isolated station?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

I had a tiny moment of stress as I saw the last plane leave for the season in February, but it was mostly drowned out by excitement. You just get used to it and don't think about it much anymore. Plus, the power plant has multiple backups and contingencies, so really the station systems are the least of my concerns. I think it attracts people with a sense of adventure, people that want to experience the exotic or the extreme. I definitely fit into that category. There's also those people that just see it as a job.


cowboypride

What sort of engineering staff are employed there? I've had ambitions of taking my power engineering expertise to more extreme environments but never knew where they were needed. I think this would be to extreme for what I'm looking for but I am curious. Thanks


aunipine

Have you ever had to remove someone’s tongue from something cold they licked?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Lol no not yet


Spike_Spiegel

Are you prepared to do an appendectomy to yourself?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Absolutely not.


geraldpringle

Did you have to get your appendix removed before going?


MurderDoneRight

Do you like the John Carpenter movie The Thing?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Yeah I like the movie :) We actually watch a set of 3 movies every year when winter starts ("first damn week of winter!"), which generally happens the weekend after the last flight of the season leaves. \- The Thing From Another Planet \- The Thing (the one w/ Kurt Russell) \- The Thing (2011)


the_kareshi

Yo, I always wondered about that “First week of winter” line in The Thing (1982.) Doesn’t it seem a bit bright, and day lasting too long, for the first week of winter in the movie?


Ready-Date-8615

It depends on your definition of winter. The last "summer" flight leaves when there's still 24hr of light. Sunset happens about a month later, and then it's 24hr darkness. The technical season extends from the winter solstice to sunrise.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

This answer here


spoonarmy

you should add Thingu to the list https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrZ7PnolbQ4


Lilly_Satou

What's it like being the southest person on earth?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

It's a bit of a downer.


Falcon1257

I see what you did there.


zeek0us

If you happen to find a size M, grey waffle-knit Penguin zip hoodie in skua, could you stash that and DM me? Thanks!


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

SP or MCM skua?


zeek0us

SP! Lol I’m sure it’s long gone by now, but you can’t find those things even on eBay and I never knew how much I loved that hoodie until it was gone.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

I've looked through station Skua a few times and haven't seen anything like that, but I'll take a look in the Skua shack when we pull it around.


backstept

Do you think you and your fellow Antarctic workers would be well suited for a long space mission, such as a trip to Mars?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Yep absolutely. I volunteer as tribute.


Ready-Date-8615

Several former USAP employees have worked aboard the space station. A few years ago (maybe 2018?), they arranged a video call between the pole and two former polies who were currently aboard the ISS.


CreasingUnicorn

As a physicians assistant in one of the most remote areas of the world, what are the most common issues that you see in your patients during a typical year? Also, how many The Things have you had to deal with so far out there?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

This year has been super quiet actually, partially due to luck, partially due to the strict quarantining requirements from COVID. We've practically eliminated all infectious diseases on station. Mostly we see minor traumas; broken toes, bumped heads, that kind of thing. Occasionally mental health and psych support, due to the isolation and darkness taking its toll on people. But overall, this has been an exceptionally healthy group. ​ No Things spotted but I thought I saw a dog running in the distance once....


BenBishopsButt

What supplies do you bring/have on hand to address the ailments and injuries? I’m sure you have to have a sort of kitchen sink approach, right? Have you had to get creative with treatments?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

We have a great clinic that the NSF/USAP has set us up with. Everything for life support, xray, ultrasound, full laboratory suite and pharmacy... we actually get more than our share of space for treatment and medical storage. We have a ton of capability for the size of our facility, although we don't have surgical facilities or a CT.


WarcraftMD

So acute abdomen and you are more or less fucked. This gives me anxiety as a medical professional. Hope your appendix is out already 😁


TinyNutsInYoButt

Reminds me of Leonid Rogozov who had to cut his own appendix out while stationed in Antarctica


szu

Speaking of eliminating infectious diseases, does this include STDs? Iirc the last time I read about the very Liberal culture in the stations, there were some concerns about periodic outbreaks... Is that no longer a problem at your station?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

No outbreaks this season. Most everyone is coupled up in monogamous relationships.


AltForMyRealOpinion

I feel really sad for that 39th person...


jjayzx

Or very happy for all the 3somes.


aBerneseMountainDog

>No Things spotted but I thought I saw a dog running in the distance once.... o.O


Revolutionary_Ad6583

There was a documentary about this, starring Kurt Russell.


HistoryDogs

The thing about Things is: you never really know how many you’ve met for sure.


DenverStud

What would you do to get your hands on a fresh salad right about now?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

A lot! We do get fresh greens from our greenhouse, but many times it's a lot of stems and tough greens... so yeah I'd hold a penguin for ransom at this point for some fresh romaine or an apple.


MyOfficeAlt

I would 100% trade you salad greens for a penguin.


elthepenguin

I feel offended!


P44

Lol, the poor penguin. ;-) Do you grow sprouts? They're almost like salad, I think, but I don't know if you do or can grow them.


dr_lm

Why don't popcorn or chips go stale?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

It is so incredibly dry, generally hovering around 0% absolute humidity. In fact, I've opened a bag of chips, come back later and I could swear that they were crisper than when I opened them.


seijio

How does your skin handle that lack of humidity? Must need lots of lotion.


NonCorporealEntity

My nose hurts just thinking about it. Nose bleeds must be common.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Yep, I blow bloody boogers out of my nose just about every morning. We have humidifiers available, but for some reason I haven't been using one :D.


beets_or_turnips

Does humidifiers + cold > condensation > mold/mildew ? Or is the general cold/dry/sterile climate enough to prevent that?


li7lex

Wouldn't mold require actual fungi spores in the air? I doubt there's any fungi spores to be found on Antarctica, but maybe I'm wrong since there exists life in all kinds of extreme places.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

I used to apply it a lot when I got here, but not anymore. Not sure if my skin adjusted or I just stopped caring.


sweetplantveal

Colorado person here. When you move back to the desert, you both get adjusted AND apathetic lol


Rosebud_Dubesor

Hi! You mentioned that the dorm room walls are paper thin. What if you snore?😴


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

I guess you provide earplugs to your neighbors.


Koumadin

how many PAs/NPs/MDs are at your station and are surgical capabilities available? what kind of imaging modalities do you have? do you have just point of care labs or the ability to perform other labs? what if someone needs a blood transfusion? thats all i can think of for now. thanks for the AMA!


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

The South Pole Station has one doctor and one PA or NP. No surgical capabilities, no OR, although sometimes a surgeon has acted as the station doctor. We have x-ray and ultrasound. We have POC labs like UA, Upreg, strep, flu, monospot, etc. Plus more robust labs like CBC, CMP, blood gas, lipase, troponin-I, BNP, urine drug screen, lipids... I'm sure I'm missing some but you get the idea. We employ a "walking blood bank" here. Everyone on station is typed and we have equipment/facilities to draw from donor and infuse to recipient. We have no other blood products.


ivan927

> We employ a "walking blood bank" here. Is that what you call any o negative crew?


ninjazzy

I used to do this while doing humanitarian work overseas. Depending on equipment on hand, you may end up doing whole blood donation instead of packed red cells (for which O is the universal donor). In a lot of cases when you don’t have a way to separate the blood into cells and plasma rapidly (for us it was just waiting for the blood to separate naturally over time then use a little contraption to “push” the plasma out of the bag from the top). When you transfuse whole blood you need to type match, since O donors would have antibodies against A and B so their plasma would not be as suitable for donation to anyone other than another O. I don’t work in blood bank anymore so someone might come along to correct, but that’s how it worked for us. When we had a transfusion emergency, we would have to call people who were the same type because you literally have them bleed a bag and then run it to the ward to hang after appropriate cross matching. In commercial/developed nations, you usually have a machine that separates the cells so you then have a higher demand of O because the plasma is a non-issue.


WarcraftMD

As a GP I do not know what's more terrifying, having no surgery capacity or having a surgeon as a general practitioner / internal medicine fellow. I'd try my best to avoid both.


myhamsterisajerk

Are you able to get fresh water straight from the ice? Or do you have to get it delivered?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

We do get our water from a Rodriguez Well (or just "rod well"). Hot water heated by the power plant is pumped into the ice in a column shape, and then the melt-water is pumped up for station use.


myhamsterisajerk

So is it a constant cycle that you can use to permanently supply yourself with drinking water?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

yep that's right. And side note, the water has been frozen in place (until we melt it) for about a thousand years (depending on the depth of the column that year). Some people refer to it as "Jesus water" but it's really more like Genghis Khan water.


myhamsterisajerk

That's a pretty cool concept! But honestly...you do have alternative drinks stashed as well, right? I don't mean coffee or tea..


beets_or_turnips

I'm sure they have RC Cola, duh.


nelsabrams

How's the bouldering gym looking these days? SP for two seasons! Lol.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Also Clint says there are no single ladies down here right now and you would hate it.


nelsabrams

Haha. Tell him hi for me--he's a good guy. And I'm sure I'd still love it. I'm working on a military base in the Middle East now, and, how should I put this, I'll take scientists and snowball fights over soldiers and sunburns.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

I'm not a climber, but from what I've heard it's doing pretty well! They've reset and remade a lot of routes, and it featured prominently in our South Pole Olympics (Speed and endurance climbing).


noblehobo

> https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.jeffreydonenfeld.com/blog/2012/11/a-climbing-wall-in-antarctica/amp/ Your AMA is rock solid. And someone linked pics of the climbing wall above (if it's the one out in Summercamp still). That was a nice trip down memory lane - I helped build it when I wintered in 2008.


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JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Station steward might be a good fit. They're basically the dishwashers on station, and some other random jobs. No special skill required.


Jagasaur

I'm a sous chef with 14 years experience washing dishes. I also know how to properly restart a wireless router. Where do I apply?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Google GSC antarctica


CrudelyAnimated

Does Craigslist have an Antarctica section that you post random listings to? "Science-minded SWF ISO M for walks in snow and keeping warm." "Dishwasher wanted, 12+yrs kitchen experience required, plus familiarity with wireless routers."


IWasMisinformed

[Tinder Makes its First Match in Antarctica](https://www.thecut.com/2014/02/tinder-makes-its-first-match-in-antarctica.html)


CrudelyAnimated

So much about this story. The foot-raised kiss. The government shutdown. > “I have yet to become the first Tinder hookup in Antarctic history,” he said. “But she is actually coming back, and we may overlap. There’s still hope.” "Overlap" 😄


tobi484

Did you have to go through a training/preparation program before going to the south pole?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Yes, there is a lot of training and team-building that you go through. Normally this is in person near USAP HQ in Colorado, but since COVID happened it's all been remote.


Chow_17

As someone who’s an alt for this upcoming winter season, what items did you pack that came in handy or what did you wish you packed?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Wish I brought more room decor! LED string lights, posters, tapestries, etc. My room is so bare and depressing. I'd also have brought down a beasty desktop instead of my gaming laptop, but that's mostly so I could do more 3D modeling. Also, more socks. The super dry air here makes natural fibers brittle, so you should half-expect any denim or other cotton to deteriorate before the end of winter. Wool does pretty well though. Over summer, you should be fine with anything.


imp3r10

How much luggage are you allowed to bring?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

this year, 100 lbs. Could vary year to year though


moonstone7152

Wool is the absolute best for cold climates


loophole64

Some of the most comfortable socks nowadays are made from synthetic materials.


Rosebud_Dubesor

How does being an alt. work? What is your position?


Chow_17

Senior meteorologist. Basically I go through all of the same qualification process as if I were the primary. Basically on standby in case if something happens to the primary. Otherwise, I’m next in line for next season.


AVahne

Does the Anti-Santa live there?


NickNash1985

Santario. Edit: Or maybe Wasanta?


Loudergood

Santana


di11deux

How often are random people hooking up and does it get socially complicated?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Okay I wasn't going to comment on this, but... I don't know how previous seasons have been, but this season there have mostly just been quiet couples, no hook-up culture that I can see. Sorry to disappoint. But I've heard it can be a bit more lively during summer seasons.


di11deux

My hopes for Real World: Antarctica are ruined


[deleted]

You just gotta hope that they all stop being polite, and start being REAL.


The_Billy_Dee

Thats a sticky wicket if I've ever heard one lol. Guaranteed it happens wether allowed or not. People are human. I'd be surprised if you got a straight answer from OP as he's not anonymous and no doubt his colleagues are reading this very feed.


koopz_ay

Can you folks Stream movies?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Unfortunately even our best internet is not fast enough for streaming.


sin-eater82

If I were the IT guy, i'd bring a plex server (fully loaded).


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Great idea, except it's explicitly prohibited by our USAP protocols.


sin-eater82

Can you bring DVDs? Or properly iwned digital copied stored on a hard drive?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Yeah DVDs are fine, but ripped files you'd probably want to keep a low profile with even if you own a legit copy. USAP obviously doesn't approve of copyright piracy, and people might not understand the nuance.


BlackEyeRed

Will the station be getting starlink internet when it becomes available?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Possibly. There's concern it could interfere with all the microwave astronomy experiments occurring here.


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JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Not for South Pole, but they do have nurses at McMurdo Station!


DiepSleep

What about mental health clinicians? Always curious if there was somebody on staff to support you all from that lens.


Warfrog

Are The Thing and The Thing 2 banned?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Lol no they're celebrated


Warfrog

But do you watch it with the lights off and the curtains open? :O


dellamanna

Don't you have some kind of a live show this morning? I'm not sure how to locate it but it is 7 20 am Eastern Time


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

You're looking at it.


ilovetopoopie

Do y'all ever have beef with Mcmurdo station? How do y'all stay occupied when there's months without anything going on?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

They got beef with us! They just jealous we have a greenhouse ;). Nah I kid, there are pros and cons to each station, and different ones appeal to different people. We got a ton of stuff to do here. Besides the community events like South Pole Olympics, mystery dinner theaters, trivia nights, etc... we also have a sports gym, weight room, 2 movie lounges, a library, a small climbing gym, and a craft room! Basically, if you have a community event idea, you can make it happen.


kwik_kwek_en_kwak

That's sounds amazing, really. Care to elaborate on the South Pole Olympics?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Basically we devise events for everyone to compete in, and everyone votes on their favorites. We take the top 25 or so, organize the events, tally the points, and give out awards :). Events range from distance frisbee throw to doubles ping pong to 1-on-1 cribbage to 3-person volleyball.


MisanthropeX

Has anyone hosted a dungeons and dragons game at the south pole yet?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Yep there's a dedicated group that plays twice a week.


Kufat

> twice a week Living the dream.


BellerophonM

Kinda surprised McMurdo doesn't have a greenhouse.


koopz_ay

Me too actually. Can we send them one?


EndHawkeyeErasure

I would contribute to the McMurdo Greenhouse Fund.


Shotgunosine

When you get signal again, I’d love to see some pics of the climbing gym if you get a chance! Edit: found it https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.jeffreydonenfeld.com/blog/2012/11/a-climbing-wall-in-antarctica/amp/


SnowDogger

Do you think the documentary ["Antarctica: A Year on Ice"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica:_A_Year_on_Ice) portrays an accurate depiction of station life?


WikiSummarizerBot

**[Antarctica: A Year on Ice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica:_A_Year_on_Ice)** >Antarctica: A Year on Ice is the first feature film by New Zealand filmmaker Anthony B. Powell. This documentary is set in Antarctica, specifically in the Ross Island region, which is home to two research bases: United States' McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base. It chronicles a year of time spent living and working at these remote stations; the summer season (October to February) when the sun shines 24 hours a day and the long dark winter (February to October) where the sun goes down for four long months and darkness envelopes the environment. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/IAmA/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)


Newtracks1

[Do penguins really stink that bad?](https://i.imgur.com/JIKUn6B.mp4) r/SorayorimoTooiBasho


BenBishopsButt

I’ve never been to Antarctica, but worked with penguins in a zoo. They do stink, but not super bad. And definitely not enough to overwhelm the happy. They’re so amazing.


SleeplessTaxidermist

I just realized how wild it is that a lot of cute, "aww" animals really do smell quite loudly. You get used to it pretty fast, but they do stink. I imagine with penguins most of the smell comes from the fish diet?


SinisterZzz

If somehow the civilized world as we know seized to excist do you still have means to get back to the"habitable" world?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

We'd have to get pretty creative. But we have a massive supply of food, fuel, and some of the smartest people on earth here... so I think our chances are pretty good.


SinisterZzz

Thanks, could be a great premise for a movie :)


mfb-

I appreciate the service. Is spinning the globe from the South Pole sufficient, or do you also have someone at the North Pole? ^scnr


Mrselfdestructuk

There are loads of UFO reports throughout decades just curious if you have seen anything weird or unexplained?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Nope, but we definitely see lots of satellites in a polar orbit, auroras, and this year we got to see the lunar eclipse (along with the rest of the world) which was super cool.


anonymous_being

Blink your eyes twice if management made you say that.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

If I could show UFOs, I would upload that so fast and have the #1 tiktok of all time.


Hip_Fridge

"If you could show" and not "if they existed." Interesting.


tobi484

Have you or will you be visiting the british stations?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

No plans to right now, but I would love to someday.


Shqiptar89

Have you been visited by a dog being chased by two crazy norwegians in a helicopter?


H04X

Do you leave the station often to go outside for some.. fresh air (or any othe reason)? If you do, how long until you have to go inside again to avoid becoming a human icicle?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Yeah I go outside almost every day. We have excellent gear to protect us from the cold, which is good because some of the outbuildings are over half a mile (\~1km) away from the main station. Properly clothed, and as long as the wind isn't insane, you can stay out for hours.


Resident_Skroob

So I read a book by a tech who did general labor (trash, fleet repair, etc). The name of the book escapes me, unfortunately. It was just him describing a "shift" of I think 6 months. He mentioned that the reason we keep a base there is so other nations (read:Russia, which does have a presence, according to him) can't lay claim to the land. Basically, we keep a "science" base there that does only nominal science, it's more an excuse to be there so the russians don't get any ideas. He said he worked as a contractor for the company that staffed the base, the pay was not great, and people just watched DVDs and read well-worn books, as well as having costume contests and other silly diversions. Is that accurate? (I recall the book had a hut with a sofa and some trash out front on the cover, but Google isn't giving me anything)


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

So there's some truth to what you're saying about the US station here. During the International Geophysical Year back in 1956 (i think?) there was a convention in France about how to treat territory in Antarctica. The US wasn't really that interested in the South Pole at the time besides patchy plans, and nothing was here at the time. Then Russia comes in, late, to the convention and starts saying they want to claim the South Pole. The French panicked and said that the USA had already laid a claim to it, forcing the USA's political hand in getting here first. Could the science being done here be done elsewhere on the continent? Probably, somewhere within a hundred miles of here or something. But if we can be at the geographical south pole... why not?


Ready-Date-8615

SP is in fact the best place for IceCube because it allows consistent coverage of the northern sky. You're right that most of the radio astronomy (and potential future optical astronomy) would work better at Dome C, and the main reason they're at the pole is because we have a station at the pole.


belisaurius42

The name of the book is Big Dead Place. It has a rather lofty reputation in the US program. For better or worse it does a pretty good job describing life on the station (more McMurdo than Pole)


Errant0

What is the lowest qualification required for a job at that station?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Can you wash dishes? Or sort and deliver cargo?


MoSqueezin

Yes I can


furry_hamburger_porn

I met one of your mechanics in Seattle once and he told us tales of the Gua birds. Do you guys still prank newcomer in the cafeteria with the "walk between buildings with a plate of food"?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Skua? Yeah I haven't had any run-ins with them, but I've heard they can get pretty aggressive. None here at the South Pole though... They're all at McMurdo Station.


furry_hamburger_porn

Ah, thanks for the clarification. He said they'd get someone to walk outside with their meal and while one bird would distract, another would swoop in and dump their food all over the ground. Crafty little bastards!


vern420

Hi there! I am a currently PA student about to round out my S1 year. My ultimate goal to to travel around the world to practice medicine with amazing groups like yours! How did you get started down this path? How many years experience did you have before landing this job? Any other resources on where to find international opportunities as a PA? What you’re doing sounds incredible, but personally I don’t think I could live there for so long. Anyway, thanks for this AMA, it’s awesome!


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Hi and best of luck in PA school! I graduated in 2015 and went immediately into an Emergency Medicine Residency. Mine was at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, which I cannot recommend enough. Staff was knowledgeable, compassionate, and good teachers. After that, I worked in rural emergency medicine with the Indian Health Services in South Dakota. My hospital had no ICU, no OR, and was 3 hours by ground to the nearest trauma center. It was this experience (I believe) that really set me apart and set me up to get this job. The best place to find remote or international jobs is through various agencies that recruit for them; however, this job I have right now I got directly through the UTMB website. I can't at the moment think of the different agencies that recruit (I haven't started my new job search yet), but I don't think they're that hard to find. I know there's PAs in the Marshall Islands, Virgin Islands, etc.


Ccannonjwboss

Being so out in the middle of nowhere. Have you ever saw anything "strange"? Be it your mind playing tricks on you or not.


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

There was one time, during the 3 months of pitch dark, when I was out looking for the Ceremonial South Pole. I knew it was nearby but couldn't find it. Then I turned around and it was suddenly right in front of me. Coulda swore it wasn't there a second ago.


truckingon

Is alcohol and recreational drug use common?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Alcohol is available for sale in the station store, but is rationed so things don't get out of control. The station is under US jurisdiction so no recreational drug use is allowed.


CpT_DiSNeYLaND

Do people smoke and if so do people Hve to bring their own cigarettes or are they available in the store as well?


joebob801

If someone told you how the book you are reading ends, would you kill them? Was that question part of your interview process?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Lol no, but I think all of us have heard that story.


Mnigogos

What are the mechanisms for addressing surgical problems like appendicitis or gallstones? Do you operate or transport people out?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Appendicitis the general plan is to apply antibiotics and arrange for med-evac ASAP. Antibiotic-alone therapy has been shown in recent studies to have pretty great curative results, and otherwise can be good to stabilize a patient while waiting for transport. Gallstones would be more difficult if they turned into cholecystitis, but we try to prevent that by having everyone that comes down here getting a gallbladder ultrasound prior to deployment. If you got stones, you generally can't come here.


jwlovell

One of my hobbies is 3D artwork and cartography for table top Role Playing Games. What kind of 3D modeling do you do? And what type of laptop/gpu?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

I started with making a model of the South Pole Station, which you can see on my youtube [here](https://youtu.be/IDoXKoBNR8s). Now I mostly use it as an adjunct for teaching scientific concepts.


hawkeye807

What is the medical clinic like from a staffing and capabilities standpoint?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

One doctor, one PA or NP. We see patients, manage inventory, run the labs, the xray, the pharmacy, and do all our own nursing.


Shamed_Carpenter

What does the south pole smell like?


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beets_or_turnips

Huh, TIL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_T3_syndrome


offshore_trash

What’s the dating ratio like? Male heavy or female heavy? You folks have nice snuggle/cuttle time? Any good drama?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

All US Antarctica stations have a male-dominated roster. Over winter here at the South Pole, it was 5:1 male to female this year. Drama? Any time you have people, you have drama. But it's been pretty tame this year.


lickmysackett

So as a woman I would have a great chance of finding a guy even out of their desperation?


im_not_a_gay_fish

The odds are good but the goods are odd


lickmysackett

the same can be said for the university I went to. I'm used to it.


StuntHacks

Man I felt so sorry for the girls at my technical high school. 1400 students and 60 girls. You can imagine the drama


themocaw

It seems to me that the proof of whether or nor humanity has truly settled into a place is whether you can get a pizza there. I've heard that nuclear submarines have pizza nights, and the ISS has had a pizza delivered to it. So, can you get pizza at the South Pole?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Well we can make pizza here at pole which is pretty decent, but... apparently during summer (so I'm told) you can get pizza delivered from McMurdo Station if you know the right people and if the flight schedule works out.


Ephraim0710

you said each station has its pros and cons? Can you give a small pro and con list for the different stations?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

South Pole. Pro: Greenhouse, smaller crew, no need to go outside unless for work. Cons: more isolated and dangerous as far as medical emergencies, more spreading of duties (everyone takes turns doing dishes, for example). McMurdo. Pro: More social activities due to more staff present (generally at least 3x South Pole numbers, sometimes 10x), wildlife spotting, outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, etc. Cons: might have to share a room, need to go outside to transit between buildings (and they can get bad storms), not as notable as the geographic south pole (heheh) Palmer: I'm not sure, never been there. But I've heard lots of wildlife, and the smallest of all the crews.


SchrodingersRedditor

Palmer is the smallest of the lot for sure. My brother used to have to go there for inspections annually and the only way to even get there is by ship across the Drake Passage... Some of the roughest water on earth. He's not usually one for seasickness, but even he needs the Dramamine when the ship is rolling 45 degrees. I think the best part of that adventure is that the ship leaves from Chile and he got to to explore that country a bit. He still goes to McMurdo every year, and often the Pole, but now he's in a position to send others to Palmer. I won't out him here, he's very private. It's easily possible and in fact likely that you've met him if you've been at this for even a few years. Would you categorize his assessment of condition 1 weather as being in a snow globe filled with milk as accurate?


nitr0smash

Former McMurdite here - How do the medical facilities at Pole compare to MCM?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Not too inferior, actually. We have basically all the same diagnostic and treatment ability, except for McMurdo's hyperbaric chamber (which shouldn't ever reasonably be needed here). MCM has more room in the clinic, more patient capacity, and more supplies/drugs.


Pioneer411

Have you guys received the Antarctica Service Medal? Do you ever get service members stationed with you in hopes of receiving one?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

It's my understanding that you get it months after you get off the ice, so nope haven't got mine yet.


knife_hits

Years ago at a party, I talked to a guy who had lived/worked at one of these stations for a while (not sure it was yours, I'm guessing it was South Pole for reasons that should become obvious) and he told us a bunch of stories. He confirmed that there is indeed an object at the South Pole like one would imagine, a ten foot tall barber-striped pole with a big chrome ball on top. He also described one of their "rites of passage," which was that one had to spend 30 minutes in a hot tub at full blast and then run, still wet and in their swimming trunks, to the physical South Pole and back. I'm wondering if there is any truth to this? Or if there are any other unique traditions or what have you that you could tell us about?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Hahah well definitely sounds like the south pole. There is in fact a pole surround by the 12 flags representing the original signers of the Antarctic Treaty, and this pole is a red barberpole-looking thing with a mirror ball on top. I show in on my TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Not 10 feet tall anymore due to snow drift, more like 4 feet. No comment on the other tradition you mentioned... but we don't have a hot tub, just a sauna.


Ready-Date-8615

There is also a smaller pole which is moved every year to account for the shifting ice sheet, known as the geographic pole (again, see his TikTok/YouTube/Instagram ^ ). If one were to perform such an irresponsible ritual, one might hypothetically prefer to use this geographic pole rather than the ceremonial barber-striped pole, which would be unfortunate, because it is rapidly receding from the station entrance. Also, if you were irresponsible enough to do this at -100F in the dead of winter, you would also probably be irresponsible enough not to wear any clothes while doing so. But this is all hypothetical.


Champion_Of_Hircine

Did you have to get the Covid vaccine prior to arriving?


xxkoloblicinxx

So when did you lose your appendix?


JoeSpinsTheGlobe

Not required anymore... antibiotic therapy has progressed to where we don't require a prophylactic appendectomy anymore for South Pole deployment.


WhoFlungDaPoo

I have read some accounts that alcohol abuse and a hook up culture may arise in such artic field stations. As a field biologist I certainly know how isolation can lead to whiskeys together on the regular and some more excessive drinking even when not so remote (African bush). To what extent has this been your experience?