Selection: Michalis Katsigeras

GEOPHYSICAL YEAR: Paris, July 10 – International Geophysical Year, which began on January 1 this year, was launched with the best auspices, with 5,000 people traveling to the Antarctic, an American rocket reaching a height of 112 kilometers above the Earth’s surface, Greenland being closely examined by hundreds of scientists and the observation of amazing explosions on the surface of the sun. Geophysical Year has been described as the “greatest scientific effort of all times,” with the participation of 10,000 meteorological stations and 25,000 scientists from 70 different countries who will be studying the stratosphere, cosmic rays, volcanoes, glaciers, ocean currents, the aurora borealis, swamps and other phenomena. The cost of this colossal endeavor is expected to total at least 150 billion francs, perhaps even more, given the cost of the artificial satellites to be launched into space. Another important undertaking is the study of cosmic rays, which affect people in mysterious ways. The most exciting project will be the exploration of Antarctica by a mission from 12 countries that will set up 46 research bases in the region.