A group of researchers is caught in a Antarctica base under a threat: that of one of them

In 1982 the film teacher John Carpenter made us feel the other face of the currency of cold isolation at a research station in Antarctica. Through science fiction he spoke to us In ‘The Thing’ of the human psyche in such auspicious conditions for paranoia and conflict. Therefore, when in 2018 it occurred A real violent story In a Russian station, the looks returned to the classic. Something similar is happening again in the area. There are nine researchers and a defendant and, as almost always, without the possibility of leaving.

Investigation. February 2025. The government of South Africa arrives a first report, a report where there is A serious accusation Among the team of nine outstanding researchers who have in the SANAE IV Antarctic Base. In addition, the accusation arises less than a month after the team started from South Africa for a 13 -month mission.

According to leaksone of the victims would have sent an email to the government describing the attack, the worrying behavior of the aggressor and direct threats against his life. However and until now, the government He has not confirmed Independently, the content of the message has not given details about the identity of the accused or the victim.

Government decision. In the last hours, the Government of South Africa has made a key decision: it has decided Do not evacuate any member After investigating the complaints of physical aggression and sexual harassment that occurred at the station.

Dion George, Minister of Environment, He affirmed to New York Times that the situation is currently “under control”, that the alleged aggressor has shown repentance and that a mediation protocol has been activated with the support of psychologists. However, the real problem is in the extreme distance (more than 4,300 km to Cape Town), and the environmental conditions, which have complicated research, leaving many questions about the safety and well -being of the equipment.

Antarctica: an inhospitable environment. The Sanae IV base is one of the many scientific facilities in Antarctica where researchers must LIVING FOR MONTHS IN ISOLATION Extreme, without the possibility of abandoning the place due to severe climatic conditions.

The hostile environment, with extreme temperatures, ice storms and months of total darkness, makes any interpersonal conflict amplify in a dangerous way, since victims cannot get away from their aggressors or seek immediate help.

Recent cases. We said it at the beginning: the problem of inappropriate behaviors and violence in Antarctic scientific bases It is not new. At the beginning of the new millennium the geologist Jane K. Willenbring denounced being harassed Sexually during an expedition, although it only filed the complaint in 2016 after obtaining professional stability.

Perhaps the most popular case of all It happened in 2018when a researcher at a Russian station stabbed a colleague, in what was described as An emotional collapse Due to insulation pressure. A year earlier, in a South African base, an investigator destroyed another’s computer with an ax For a love dispute. All incidents that reflect the psychological complexity of prolonged isolation and the challenges that the authorities face to supervise the behavior of the equipment deployed in the region.

And the law? It We count a few years ago. Given the absence of effective autonomous institutions, and having such a tiny and scientific population, we can only refer to the Antarctic Treaty which was signed in the mid -twentieth century by 53 countries, the same that establishes that each malefactor will be tried according to the jurisdiction of their country of origin. Of course, there are no order forces or real judicial figures.

The logistics dilemma. It is the great leg to elucidate. One of the key factors in the decision of the South African government not evacuating anyone lies in the logistics and operation of the base. In winter, ice storms They make any evacuation impossible Without high risk for the entire crew. In addition, each team member plays an essential role to maintain the operational station, and the lack of personnel could be unusable the base, a crucial infrastructure for South Africa’s scientific research in the region.

According to Dawn Sumnerprofessor at the University of California, withdrawing a single person is not viable without affecting the stability of the equipment and the operability of the station. Plus: The physical structure of the SANAE IV base limits the possibility of completely isolating the aggressor of others.

Protocols and prevention. To avoid incidents, researchers traveling to Antarctica are subject to rigorous selection processes similar to those of astronautswhere technical skills, psychological history, medical history and coexistence capacity are evaluated. Thus, even with these filters, coexistence problems in extreme environments remain a constant threat.

In this regard, Minister George said that, at the time of the team’s departure in February, no problem was detected in the evaluation of the members. However, recent events suggest that current protocols may not be enough to prevent this type of incidents in long -term missions.

Plus: Winter. Despite the apparent current calm, experts warn that the worst is yet to come. The months of July and August will bring total darkness and even more extreme temperatures, which could intensify tensions within the equipment and increase psychological risks. As stood out in the Times Professor Sumner, “darkness has not yet arrived, and they are already facing these problems,” suggests that the situation could deteriorate even more.

With this cultivation broth, the combination of isolation, extreme climatic conditions and interpersonal conflicts without the possibility of escape, they make this A high -risk case. While South Africa insists that everything is under control, the history of violence in Antarctic Bases and the limited response options generate concern about the well -being of the team in the coming months.

Image | POT, Ross Hofmeyr

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A group of researchers is caught in a Antarctica base under a threat: that of one of them

It was originally posted in

Xataka

by
Miguel Jorge

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