麻豆约拍

This week the programme explores research into "ice" - both on an Antarctic ice shelf, and the micro-organisms that live in frozen sea water.

Alan Daulby stands in for Adam Walton and visits Bangor University to meet Professor David Thomas of Bangor University, who is chair of Marine Biology, and also Director of Ser Cymru National Research Network for Low Carbon, Energy and Environment. David outlines the many tiny organisms that thrive inside sea ice, including bacteria that love living in conditions similar to those in a domestic freezer. Also micro-algae which photosynthesize. We also hear about studies in the Arctic and Baltic seas into bacteria that produce bio-plastics and the potential benefits for industry.

We hear from two glaciologists from Aberystwyth University, Professor Bryn Hubbard and Dr David Ashmore who have recently returned from a research trip to the Antarctic ice shelf "Larsen C", which is two and a half times the size of Wales. Along with scientists from Swansea University, they were investigating the formation of "melt ponds" on the surface of the ice shelf and the possible causes of the phenomenon.

Professor Adrian Luckman from Swansea University explains the long standing collaboration between universities doing research in extreme conditions, and聽the British Antarctic Survey

Reporter Chris Dearden reports from Robertson Geologging in Deganwy, who manufactured some of the specialist聽equipment used by Welsh scientists in the Antarctic.