On a volcanic rock just off the coast of Antarctica, McMurdo Station is abuzz with scientific research this time of year. But despite its central role in Antarctic research, McMurdo is lacking something most scientists working at 21st-century laboratories take for granted: high-speed internet. McMurdo sits on the only continent that doesn’t have a high-speed fiber optic cable connection to the rest of the world. Earlier this year, the NSF began seriously exploring the possibility of building a fiber optic cable that would travel along the seafloor from Antarctica to neighboring New Zealand or Australia. Although a high-speed internet connection could offer many benefits, some scientists also worry about how such a change will impact the culture in McMurdo Station.

Source: The Nation November 23, 2021 20:02 UTC