NEWS

Summer upgrades to the SPS (South Pole System), part of IceCube’s computing infrastructure, were completed this week, and two IceCubers who had been working at the Pole, Ralf and James, left for warmer climes. Before leaving, Ralf was treated to a beautiful cookie as a birthday treat. Their departing LC-130 to McMurdo Station left without hitch even though the crew had forgotten to raise the skis, which can leave a plane stuck for some time.

Outdoors, it’s all blue sky and white snow, with the smattering of red parkas across the landscape. Other colors can be found inside where, as in many places throughout the world, holiday decorations have begun cropping up.