Coming out of the cold and stepping into the light: human adaptation in high latitude environments

Abstract

During the 1898–99 Belgica Expedition tothe Antarctic, the famous polar explorerand expedition’s physician, FrederickCook, attempted to ward off the sadnessand melancholy that plagued the crew byhaving them eat fresh seal and penguinmeat; spend long hours walking on a path, known as the “madhouse promenade”, thatencircled the ice-bound ship; and sit infront of a blazing fire. The fresh meat wasintended to provide energy and reduce therisk of scurvy; the walking was intended tokeep the crew physically active; and the fireboth warmed the crew and perhaps exposedthem to one of the earliest known forms oflight therapy during the polar winter (1).