On 23 April, World Laboratory Day, we celebrate the extraordinary places where science pushes the boundaries of human knowledge, from the remote corners of Earth to laboratories orbiting high above it.
One such place is Concordia station, where ESA medical doctor Sarah Gaier is seen testing biological samples in the laboratory. Located in the middle of Antarctica, 1100 km inland from the coast on a plateau at an altitude of 3200 m, Concordia is one of the most extreme research outposts on our planet. When winter sets in, temperatures plummet to -80°C, the Sun disappears for four months, and the station becomes completely cut off from the rest of the world.
Despite these hardships, a dozen or so people winter over at Concordia station in the name of science. Far removed from civilisation, the white world of Antarctica allows research that would be impossible elsewhere, from glaciology to astronomy.
For two decades, ESA has sponsored a medical doctor each year to brave the cold and isolation in this unique environment which mirrors many of the psychological and physiological challenges astronauts face in space. By studying life at Concordia, scientists can better understand these effects, develop countermeasures and prepare for future human missions beyond Earth.
Sarah Gaier arrived at Concordia station last November. IShe has been busy settling into the station and setting up biomedical experiments , which include studying mindfulness techniques and investigating the effects of the extreme environment on our immune systems.
At Earth’s most remote laboratory, the Concordia winterover crew are more isolated than astronauts on the International Space Station. ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is currently carrying out several science experiments within the Columbus module, Europe’s laboratory in space, for the εpsilon mission. Orbiting 400 km above us, Columbus is also among the most remote research facilities accessible to humankind, enabling groundbreaking experiments in microgravity conditions.
Read Sarah’s first blog for a glimpse into her journey to Concordia, and life in Earth’s most remote laboratory. Discover stories from previous ESA medical doctors on the Concordia blog.