The Halley VI Antarctic research station, as the name implies, is a sixth-generation facility operated by the British Antarctic Survey, which has a long history of pioneering science.
In 1985, the team at Halley discovered the infamous hole in Earth's ozone layer, which was the result of constant atmospheric monitoring at the station starting in 1956. Today, the site remains one of the most important places to carry out science, but it's also one of the most extreme climates to work in.
For 106 days each year, researchers work in total darkness. More than a meter of snow falls annually (past iterations of the Halley station were either abandoned or buried under the snow), and temperatures can dip to -120 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite its location in one of the harshest environments on the planet, Halley VI designers found ways to make the facility feel like home.
The upcoming book, Ice Station: The Creation of Halley VI. Britain's Pioneering Antarctic Research Station examines the making of Halley VI and offers an inside glimpse at a place few will ever see.