Dr Rob Lambert reveals more about some of the scientific studies he will be undertaking. Or, as he rather puts it, this is his iBlog (get it?!):

“A major aim of our expedition is to raise funds for Seeing is Believing, which aims to tackle avoidable blindness all over the planet. So perhaps appropriately, besides the small matter of crossing Antarctica in winter, another of the expedition’s aims is to do some valuable medical research. The isolation, extreme environmental conditions, and confined living conditions in Antarctica are unique, and from a medical standpoint this is often seen as analogous to space travel. As we cross the continent, the team will be conducting 16 different medical and psychological studies, collectively known as the ‘White Mars’ programme.

One of our experiments will be looking into any visual changes the team may experience, due perhaps to the altitude or to the lack of visual stimulation provided by travelling through the endless white. Here we see Ran Fiennes subjecting himself to having the pressure in his eyeballs measured, using portable equipment like that used by Seeing is Believing in eye clinics all over the developing world. The small white needle is bounced off the eyeball several times to measure its internal pressure – an interesting, but not unpleasant experience.

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