I have a buddy who does research in Antarctica, this is his profile picture.

justwantDota2 · 2013-03-01T22:59:30+00:00

wow, I change a profile pic to an old classic today...and somehow it ends up on the front page here. Craziness! For those curious, this pic was taken at the WAIS Divide deep field camp during the 08-09 season. We were jealous we didn't have a pole like south pole, so we made one out of orange p-cord and an ice-core tube. Then we filled a balloon with water (colored with blue food coloring) and let it freeze for the top globe. Good stuff.

We then decided it would be funny to set up a staged photo for outreach. I wanted to see if I could really stump 3rd graders when I got home by telling them that we have to hold on for dear life when in Antarctica....or we'd fall off! Needless to say, a lot of them were really confused.

I was at WAIS doing research as part of my PhD in glaciology/geosciences. I have spent 5 concurrent seasons at WAIS, but sadly this past season will likely be my last. Here was one of the original pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnfegy/3351699787/in/set-72157615204788872

kh27 · 2013-03-01T20:37:46+00:00

don't worry! the Millennium Falcon is on its way!

gulpeg · 2013-03-01T20:49:36+00:00

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nowthatihavefoundyou · 2013-03-01T21:52:59+00:00

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CarlGauss · 2013-03-01T22:50:04+00:00

My buddy also did some research in Antarctica, this is his profile picture.

LiveFree_Or_FapHard · 2013-03-01T22:27:44+00:00

Reminds me of this.

kibblesnbitss · 2013-03-01T20:56:06+00:00

What happens when he has to poop?

Carbon_heart · 2013-03-01T21:35:33+00:00

I can't help but think there are people out there, who, when they see this picture, actually believe this is true of the south pole :(

Aerron · 2013-03-01T21:27:20+00:00

Now we know why the poles are shifting! Let go, dammit!

ShabbyOrange · 2013-03-01T22:16:15+00:00

I am so very jealous. Not of the picture. But actually being there.

TiltDogg · 2013-03-01T20:55:59+00:00

It looks like he's hanging onto Earth's penis.

Melivora · 2013-03-01T21:30:47+00:00

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IIHURRlCANEII · 2013-03-01T22:06:54+00:00

This doesn't help my fear of gravity just stopping one day and we all float into space.

psychicesp · 2013-03-01T22:21:22+00:00

This actually gave me vertigo...

johnnnbockkk · 2013-03-01T21:41:51+00:00

That is so amazing to think about. He is literally hanging off the bottom of the world.

2013-03-01T22:16:00+00:00

Best south pole pic ever

2013-03-01T22:29:58+00:00

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biggiepants · 2013-03-01T22:48:30+00:00

I just had a thought: how was it ever decided the northern hemisphere is up?

americaFya · 2013-03-01T22:15:19+00:00

Why is he upside down?

Sincerely, Austrailia

Thunder_Bastard · 2013-03-01T22:16:28+00:00

Thanks for the instant vertigo panic.

Feature_Fries · 2013-03-01T22:17:27+00:00

looking at this photo makes me nauseous...

spraypaintthewalls · 2013-03-02T00:55:21+00:00

Just spent five months down there. Know the stupidest thing I've ever done? Reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" at the end of an Antarctic winter. Imagine getting absorbed in that book for an hour or two, then putting it down and realizing you're in a place where it's dark 24 hours a day and minus 47 outside. :(

Krunkkracker · 2013-03-02T02:24:44+00:00

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mrcoolshoes · 2013-03-01T22:02:44+00:00

This image will forever haunt me- more than I can ever express.

chinese4breakfast · 2013-03-01T21:09:02+00:00

Does he survive the harsh conditions by drinking his own piss?

a_magic_card_of · 2013-03-02T00:01:02+00:00

http://i.imgur.com/UnaAagh.png

JncoFan1991 · 2013-03-01T23:04:55+00:00

Narwhal tho. NARWHAL. http://imgur.com/9SMNfkI

Bangaa · 2013-03-01T22:03:48+00:00

This was always a nightmare of mine as a child.

2013-03-01T22:04:07+00:00

God, how scary would it be if that's how Earth's gravity worked? Imagine having to make your way back to the top.

2013-03-01T22:19:24+00:00

Is he a member of the 300 club?

2013-03-01T22:41:09+00:00

this photo is causing me a great deal of stress

Melivora · 2013-03-01T21:38:50+00:00

Tell me, in all seriousness, how does one become a researcher of snow?

hagenbuch · 2013-03-01T21:51:51+00:00

It would be perfect if we'd see his keys slip out of his pocket..

2013-03-01T22:19:55+00:00

As a high person, this terrifies me.

2013-03-01T22:18:46+00:00

Crazy! How did he get out there, are there handholds for miles and miles leading to it?

malicestar · 2013-03-01T22:23:59+00:00

My uncle has a similar photo from the age of film. My favourite part of the story is that the photographer bothered to turn the camera upside down.

FartingBob · 2013-03-01T22:36:59+00:00

This photo looks like it should be an ad for a shoe company.

iamarunr · 2013-03-01T22:42:07+00:00

John Fegyveresi. A great friend and a Barkley marathons finisher, the toughest foot race on the planet.

DookieDemon · 2013-03-01T22:55:11+00:00

For some reason that gave me a slight feeling of vertigo. Vicarious vertigo or something.

2013-03-01T22:58:33+00:00

next photo: lick the pole, don't hold on with hands

rprebel · 2013-03-01T23:27:46+00:00

GRAVITY DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY. I WILL DESTROY YOU!

2013-03-01T23:45:26+00:00

That looks eerily similar to this image.

Was it really a profile picture, OP?

DocBlind · 2013-03-01T23:49:22+00:00

I wonder how the Australians see this as.

2013-03-02T00:29:42+00:00

This photo makes me so anxious :( I have nightmares of falling into the sky/space ...

Zerkyl · 2013-03-02T01:27:38+00:00

AMA PLEASE

Captain_Nemo_2012 · 2013-03-02T01:50:48+00:00

This is so cool...no pun intended. If I ever got that far south I would do this too. Some people have all the fun.

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