Jan. 1 – A month ago, three University of Pisa scholars traveled to Antarctica to search for meteorites; a couple of days ago, the team saw the addition of two other geologists from the Department of Earth Sciences, part of the National Research Program in Antarctica (PNRA) mission. Dr. Chiara Montomoli and Professor Natale Perchiazzi, supported in their work by Professor Rodolfo Carosi from the University of Turin, attempt to understand the geological processes through which Antarctica acquired its current configuration, and consequently map the various geological eras. The researchers are dedicated to the study of the Antarctic continent as it appears today: a vast emerged area (larger than Europe) covered almost entirely in ice, but where, unlike for the Arctic, there are emerging rocks from the ice itself, especially along the periphery of the continent and near the mountain ranges. The area where the research focuses is the northern portion of Victoria Land (Northern Victoria Land), an extensive region on the west coast of the Ross Sea (Ross Sea), south of New Zealand. The research activity includes a wide range of disciplines, chemistry, biology, and the earth sciences above all; the research group has considerable work experience in this unique environment; and the research is carried out in accordance with international agreements under the so-called Antarctic Pact, which plans to “use” Antarctica as a great lab without economic or military interests following national and international scientific projects approved by SCAR (Scientific Committee for the Antarctic Research), the world scientific body that examines and approves study programs in Antarctica.