Video: Flight Over Everest

Recently, a team of German scientists flew over Mt. Everest to capture the mountain with a special 3D camera that will reveal details of the peak that have been previously unseen. Reportedly the camera is so sensitive that it can detect objects as small as 15 cm, even from the air. Along the way, they also captured the video below, which while is isn't in 3D, it still includes some great shots of the mountain.

U.S. Government Shutdown Halts Antarctic Research

As the shutdown of the U.S. government continues to drag on the consequences for the inability for Congress and the President to come to an agreement on budget issues continues to ripple into more and more programs. Of course, we already knew that the closure of the national park service would impact some of our favorite outdoor places, but now it seems that research stations in the Antarctic are feeling the fiscal crunch as well.

As fall continues on here in the Northern Hemisphere, spring is moving into full effect down south. That includes Antarctica, where the late-October and early-November are the traditional kick off the research season at the bottom of the world. In just a few weeks time I'll begin coverage of teams heading to the South Pole for what promises to be another busy and interesting season. But for American research teams, it could potentially be a very frustrating one.

The National Science Foundation has announced that unless a budget agreement is reached by October 14, the organization will run out of funds to cover its various projects, including the staffing and maintenance of Antarctic research stations. The NSF has already instructed its support contractors to prepare to move into "caretaker status." What does that mean exactly? Here's what the memo says:

"Under caretaker status, the USAP (U.S. Antarctic Program) will be staffed at a minimal level to ensure human safety and preserve government property, including the three primary research stations, ships and associated research facilities. All field and research activities not essential to human safety and preservation of property will be suspended."

This is obviously bad news for the scientists and researchers who have been planning on going to the Antarctic for months, if not longer. Most will be put on hold come Monday and if the situation isn't resolved, their research could be delayed for years. As Outside magazine says in their article on the subject, scheduling for these projects is done far in advance and any shift in that schedule could be incredibly disruptive to the work being done.

There are a few more days to get things sorted out, although at this point discussions are not looking promising. There is a major deadline looming at the end of next week however and it is my opinion that some compromise will be reached by then. Both sides seem to be playing chicken at the moment and neither wants to be the one to swerve first. Hopefully they'll come to their senses soon and things can begin to return to normal. There is still time, even if things look pretty grim right now.

National Geographic Honors Six Explorers, Conservationists and Adventurers

Last night the National Geographic Society's 125th Anniversary Gala took place at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The event continued the year-long celebration of the "New Age of Exploration" by honoring some very distinguished guests for their contributions to science, the expansion of knowledge and pushing the boundaries of exploration in the 21st century.

Nat Geo CEO and Chairman John Fahey was on hand to hand out the Hubbard Medal, which is the Society's highest honor. This year's recipients included filmmaker James Cameron and oceanographer Sylvia Earl, both of whom were honored for their work in exploring and protecting the seas. Cameron was also named Explorer of the Year for 2012 dive into the Mariana Trench. The medal was also given to author Edward O. Wilson for a lifetime of writing about the diversity of life on our planet. BASE Jumper Felix Baumgartner was on hand to collect his award as the Adventurer of the Year, which he earned with his record setting leap from the edge of space, while Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebeck was given the Alexander Graham Bell Medal for his 25 years of service as the host of the National Geographic Bee. The Chairman's Award went to philanthropist Howard G. Buffett for his leadership in conservation efforts around the globe.

Congratulations to all of the winners. Each is more than deserving for their in their own field. Some for their amazing achievements over the past year and others for a lifelong contribution to the ideals that the National Geographic Society has espoused since it's inception 125 years ago. These fine individuals are certainly representative of exploration in a new age.

You can read a complete rundown of the evening here.

Video: Connecting Adventurers And Scientists

Gregg Treinish is a 2013 Nat Geo Emerging Explorer and the founder of Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation. That organization connects outdoor enthusiasts, explorers and extreme athletes with scientists who are looking for samples or data to help them in their research. By working together, the outdoor crowd can help collect that data and get into the hands of scientists who may not have had an opportunity to get it before. It is a novel concept – kind of like crowd-research – and I think it is a brilliant idea.

The video below profiles Gregg and what he is attempting to accomplish with ASC. It is also the first in a new four-part series that will profile similar me and women who are having a positive impact on our world.

Gregg Treinish, A MoveShake Story from RED REEL on Vimeo.

National Geographic Announces 2013 Emerging Explorers

Yesterday, the National Geographic Society announced its 2013 class of Emerging Explorers, once again turning the spotlight on some of the brightest young minds who are working in a wide variety of fields today. In fact, this year's recipients are helping to redefine exactly what the term "explorer" means in the 21st century as the group includes a roboticist, an entrepreneur and a couple of artists, along with the more traditional biologists, geologists and conservationists. It safe to say that the world of exploration has opened up in some new and very interesting ways.

In all, there are 17 individuals who have been named to the Emerging Explorers Program this year. Each of them is recognized for having accomplished important things in their particular area of expertise during the early part of their career and their work shows significant promise for future breakthroughs as well. To aid them in their research, Nat Geo awards each Emerging Explorer $10,000 as well.

Amongst this year's class of Emerging Explorers are Bethany Ehlmann who is a planetary geologist on NASA's Rover Curiosity team. She is focused on exploring our solar system to see how planets formed over time. She is joined by Sandesh Kadur, a wildlife photographer and filmmaker who focuses on creating documentaries about endangered species and threatened habitats. Conservation Biologist Andrea Marshall earned a place amongst the Emerging Explorers for her research with threatened marine megafauna such as the stingray while adventurer Gregg Treinish is recognized for his efforts in founding the non-profit Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation.

This is just a sampling of the amazing men and women make up this year's class of Emerging Explorers. Each of them is a fascinating personality in their own right and they are all doing interesting work in an incredibly diverse number of fields. You can take a look at the entire class by clicking here.

Congratulations to the entire 2013 class. This honor is well deserved all around.

Video: Tour The International Space Station

The International Space Station is an incredible piece of technology, serving as a laboratory, observatory and research facility. It has also served as home for countless astronauts who have stayed in orbi for an extended period of time. Most of us will never get an opportunity to ever step inside the station, but thanks to this video we can still get a good look around. It was shot recently by atstronaut Sunita Williams, who served as commander on board the station until she returned to Earth last month. Just before she departed for home, she decided to film this extensive tour of the ISS, giving us all an inside look like never before.

Video: GoPro Goes To Alaska

I was very reluctant to post this video, mostly out of jealousy. You see, I was invited to go along on this GoPro trip to Alaska to study the Aurora Borealis, but had to decline due to a schedule conflict. I really, really want to join the team, but it was a fairly short trip that was overlapping with one that I had already signed on for. So, watching this video is just a reminder of what I missed out on, which isn't easy to take. Beautiful scenery, cool premise and amazing adventure. Maybe next time!