A historical exploration between the two poles

A team of 8 explorers from around the world, united under the banner of the Transglobal Car Expedition, is embarking on an ambitious scientific quest to enrich our understanding of the universe. Associated with the geneveMonde.ch platform, this team will cover 50,000 kilometers, including almost 15,000 kilometers across Antarctica and the Arctic, crossing 30 countries from the North Pole to the South Pole. Their mission goes beyond adventure, seeking to collect crucial data to support climate advocates in their case for change.

This pioneering expedition is making the northernmost measurement of cosmic radiation flux, venturing where no published data yet exists. Portable cosmic muon detectors, designed by CERN scientists including James Devine, are deployed on the vehicles, using open-source technologies. EREBUS, the first to set off for the North Pole, and NANSEN, recently joined in Yellowknife, are equipped to cope with extreme conditions, promising unrivalled information on cosmic ray activity throughout the journey.

Cosmic rays, high-energy particles from distant sources beyond our solar system, will be closely scrutinized. These particles, similar to those studied at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, have extraordinarily high energies, defying even the most powerful particle gas pedals. The EREBUS and NANSEN detectors aim to unravel the mystery of intense cosmic radiation at the North Pole, attracted by the planet's magnetic field.

In homage to explorer Fridtjof Nansen, the NANSEN detector is part of this quest. Nansen, explorer, scientist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922, made history with his exploits, including the first crossing of Greenland on skis in 1888.

Explore our gallery on Fridtjof Nansen at geneveMonde.ch

Photo number of Fridtjof Nansen (left) in 1882 with Axel Krefting and two captured polar bears (public domain/snl.no)