0:00:02 > 0:00:04BOTH: We are Dr Chris and Dr Xand.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06We're tracking down the most awesome...
0:00:06 > 0:00:07..incredible...
0:00:07 > 0:00:10BOTH: ..and epic things in the universe!
0:00:21 > 0:00:22BOTH: Come with us
0:00:22 > 0:00:27and discover unbelievable things that will blow your mind!
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Blow Your Mind will be bringing you loads of top experts
0:00:31 > 0:00:35and scientists to help you find out more about some amazing stuff...
0:00:35 > 0:00:38..from the Arctic to elephants, spaceships to sharks,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41and this week it's all about ice.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Yes, frozen water.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45So, hold on to your brains.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47BOTH: Here's what's coming up!
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Neptune skipper Ragi has a nightmare docking at the berg.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55We confront the biggest, scariest and most awe-inspiring land predator
0:00:55 > 0:00:59in the natural world - the polar bear.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02And we set foot for the first time on a mega berg.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Chris, a week ago,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10if you'd told me I would be desperate to find out more about
0:01:10 > 0:01:12icebergs, well, I wouldn't have believed you,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15but they are incredibly cool.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- I know.- I mean, really, properly, excitingly cool.- I do know.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20And dangerous, like, dangerously cool.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Yeah, I do know, Xander, I'm the one who lived on an iceberg
0:01:23 > 0:01:25and I'm telling you all this stuff!
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Well, hurry up and tell us some more, then.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28Last time, you were on the Neptune
0:01:28 > 0:01:32and the captain was just about to attempt to dock the ship
0:01:32 > 0:01:35to let you and the team put some scientific kit onto the berg.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37It looked pretty dangerous. What happened?
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Well, like anything to do with icebergs, it wasn't easy,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42but I'll show you. See for yourself.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50I had joined a bunch of scientists in Greenland.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55Our journey started on a glacier, but now we were stalking an iceberg,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58trying to climb aboard to continue our icy experiments.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Today's team of intrepid explorers and scientists are...
0:02:05 > 0:02:07..Chris Packham, wildlife and nature expert...
0:02:09 > 0:02:13..expedition doctor and all-round brave guy, me...
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Dr Helen Czerski, physicist and oceanographer...
0:02:17 > 0:02:22..Andy Torbet, extreme explorer and glacial diver...
0:02:23 > 0:02:27..Doug Allan, polar cameraman and glacial diver...
0:02:28 > 0:02:31..Peter Wadhams, ocean physicist and ice expert...
0:02:33 > 0:02:37..Ragi Elson, Arctic sailor and the ship's captain.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Ragi is really experienced in the seas of the Arctic.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Because of that, he was incredibly cautious of landing the team
0:02:46 > 0:02:49on an iceberg that was actually moving.
0:02:50 > 0:02:55You should always take the worst scenario and work from that.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Be prepared for the worst.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02Ships the size of Neptune can be badly damaged by the super-hard ice
0:03:02 > 0:03:05of a berg, which is why Ragi was super cautious
0:03:05 > 0:03:08and took things very, very slowly.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Ragi was still taking it slowly as he guided the Neptune alongside the ice.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19It's impossible to predict how a moving berg will behave.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Collisions are hard to avoid.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25RADIO CHATTER
0:03:28 > 0:03:31And there was another unexpected problem.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35The team had discovered a huge ledge of ice jutting out
0:03:35 > 0:03:36just beneath the water.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40This is known as an ice ram, and it was right under the ship.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44There's several hundred thousand tonnes of ice down there
0:03:44 > 0:03:46and we're on top of it.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50If a crack opened and it broke off,
0:03:50 > 0:03:54the buoyancy would bring the whole thing up above sea level
0:03:54 > 0:03:57and we would be tipped over one way or the other.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00It looks like a nice, neat place to moor,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02but actually it's quite dangerous.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04That's another reason why Ragi was
0:04:04 > 0:04:07so keen not to make contact with the berg.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08But then...
0:04:10 > 0:04:14That's the second time the Neptune had slammed into the berg.
0:04:14 > 0:04:15That was enough for Ragi.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19He insisted on searching for a safer landing site.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Wowee. That looks really tricky, Chris.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28The skipper has so much to think about when he's docking that ship.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30It's scary to think it would just be tossed in the air
0:04:30 > 0:04:32if a part of that berg rolled.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Yes, if it rolls, the force that would be released is massive,
0:04:35 > 0:04:38easily enough to tumble our little ship.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41- So the skipper is absolutely right be careful.- Yeah, for sure.
0:04:41 > 0:04:42He's got all of our lives in his hands.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45I didn't realise when you went on this expedition
0:04:45 > 0:04:47- it would be so dangerous. - Well, you know, I'm very brave,
0:04:47 > 0:04:51so I was fine, which is a good thing, because ice isn't the only danger.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53We were about to come very close
0:04:53 > 0:04:56to one of the most terrifying other dangers -
0:04:56 > 0:04:59much to Chris Packham's delight. Check this out!
0:05:01 > 0:05:05As skipper Ragi scoured the berg for a new docking place,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08we soon discovered that we were not the only tourists in the area.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- There's a polar bear swimming, what, 50 metres off the ship?- Really close.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15And he's just hanging out.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20This is all my Christmases come at once. A polar bear.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I really, really, really hoped to see one,
0:05:23 > 0:05:25but I never thought we would.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28But then, you know, these are marine mammals.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31They can cover great distances in the sea,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34and they frequently do, swimming between the ice floes.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36How exciting, though, honestly.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Polar bears hunt on sea ice for most of the year, but it was summer,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43so most of the sea ice had melted,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47and the team's berg was the only ice left in the area.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49This bear wasn't alone.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52There was another bear up on the berg.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58A polar bear on our iceberg. Hold on, hold on.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Oh, I don't believe it. I really don't.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06There's actually another bear on the ice.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09Through my binoculars, it's a little speck.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15So, in the space of just half an hour, we've seen three polar bears.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18One in the water off the ice berg,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20one here, happy, smiling,
0:06:20 > 0:06:25and about 500 metres over there is a third bear on our iceberg.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It is bear-tastic.
0:06:32 > 0:06:37Look at him. He's just lovely. Lovely, lovely bear.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Despite the team's excitement,
0:06:40 > 0:06:44these predators were a real problem for the science team.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Bears are really curious,
0:06:46 > 0:06:51and capable of attacking anything or anyone that enters their territory.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55The intention is to go on that iceberg, but three bears
0:06:55 > 0:06:59in 15 minutes, that adds a bit of excitement to the whole thing.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04I can see why everyone was so excited.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06I've only ever seen polar bears in zoos
0:07:06 > 0:07:08and they're pretty impressive there.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10It must be mind-blowing to see them in the wild.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Yes, wild is the right word, because that is what you have to
0:07:13 > 0:07:16remember all the time - they are wild, and they're hunters.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20A male bear can get up to ten feet tall standing up,
0:07:20 > 0:07:21and they can weigh up to 1,000 kilos.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25And they just see other animals and humans as food.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28So, you can see why we had to be very, very careful.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31The next day we saw even more. Take a look.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37In a single day, we saw five more bears.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39That's eight altogether.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Our safety officer called an emergency meeting.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48There are going to be a few simple rules here
0:07:48 > 0:07:51that I think all of us can just get into our minds early on.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55Number one, nobody is wandering off the ship on their own.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Number two, you've got to make sure there are watchers out.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Number three, you're going to need some equipment with you to
0:08:00 > 0:08:03make sure that you can fend off the bear if he comes too close.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09Having seen bears stalking seals on ice similar to this,
0:08:09 > 0:08:11they are very clever.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14They will see a seal from a long way away and they will take
0:08:14 > 0:08:18advantage of the dips and hollows to stay out of sight.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Just try to be super bear aware.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24If suddenly you find one very close,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27then drop a piece of clothing on the ice.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29Put a pair of dirty socks in your pocket.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Something nice and smelly, so you've got a couple of things to drop.
0:08:33 > 0:08:34They will buy you vital seconds.
0:08:36 > 0:08:37The Inuit have a great saying,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41which says it's not the bear you can see that's going to get you.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44So, it's the one you can't see that will get you.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49Good advice about the socks. Xand? Xand?
0:08:49 > 0:08:51I was just taking Chris Packham's advice.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54I never would have thought a bear would be interested in my socks.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57- Xand, there aren't any bears around here.- That's cos I've got my socks.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- They'll keep anything away.- Urgh!
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Anyway, we did eventually make it onto the ice, despite the bears.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05The next morning, we found a mooring spot.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10RADIO CHATTER
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Ragi had found what he thought was an ideal place for the Neptune
0:09:16 > 0:09:20to dock, but the bear risk called for additional safety measures.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Here is the rifle.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25He would be on guard.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28He's a Greenlander, and used to living with the threat of bears.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Let's hope we don't have to use it.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36The man leading the shore party was Andy Torbet.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38About to get the gangway across to the iceberg,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40and take those first few steps.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44We'll recce sites that we can get these big ship anchors in.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48The point of all this, is to get the scientists on there safely
0:09:48 > 0:09:49so we can do the science.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Let's go.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05LAUGHTER
0:10:05 > 0:10:06That's why we need crampons.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16- First on the iceberg! How does it feel?- It's awesome.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18This is where the adventure properly starts.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24After Andy slipped, the rest of the crew went more carefully.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28This is how you imagine big lumps of ice.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31- Feel that on the top, feel it on the top.- It's just like marble, isn't it?
0:10:31 > 0:10:34There's nothing, there's no give in that.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38'They needed ice that was hard and stable to attach the ropes to.'
0:10:38 > 0:10:42- That's fine, go for there. - 'So, the drilling got under way.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47'But before too long, they had company.'
0:10:49 > 0:10:52He does seem to be moving a little bit towards the left, doesn't he?
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- He is, he's walking left. - Yeah, exactly.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Oh, eyes on! He's just there.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04- Here he is. Look.- He's very close.
0:11:05 > 0:11:10- Very close to us.- Could you give us an update on the situation?
0:11:11 > 0:11:13He's still moving left to right.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16Very good, thank you.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20'As long as the bear kept its distance, the team could carry on.'
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Beautiful.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23Yep, through, through.
0:11:25 > 0:11:26Yeah!
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Couple more. One more.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Awesome. Done.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37First step on the iceberg.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39First person to fall over on the iceberg.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Yes, I think... Yeah.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46A rather unceremonious first step for man, a giant leap for mankind.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Yeah.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51The bears certainly made the team work quickly.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54It took two days to find a safe place to dock,
0:11:54 > 0:11:56but only an hour to actually moor.
0:11:58 > 0:11:59For the moment, the bears had gone
0:11:59 > 0:12:02and the scientists could get onto the ice.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Wow, that is absolutely fascinating stuff.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10What did it feel like when you touched it?
0:12:10 > 0:12:12I mean, it looks like it would be snowy and soft,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14but I heard Helen say it was like marble.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17It was like marble, absolutely solid, hard ice.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19And it was brilliant the scientists made it onto the ice,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22but there was this constant fear of polar bears.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24They look so cute, though, don't they?
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Yeah, but you have to keep reminding yourself they're potentially very
0:12:27 > 0:12:30dangerous - they are one of the top predators on the planet.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33That is mega-scary. I did like Andy's little routine
0:12:33 > 0:12:35when he stepped on the ice for the first time.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37- Yeah, that was pretty funny. - Can we see it again?
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- No, it's not fair, he slipped. - Come on, you're never fair.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- Show it again.- All right, run the VT!
0:12:44 > 0:12:45OK, Andy, let's go then.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50LAUGHTER
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- That was really good. Can we just see it once more?- OK, here goes.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Oops!
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- Poor old Andy. Gets me every time.- I know.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03But seriously, it did take us all by surprise just how hard
0:13:03 > 0:13:07- and slippy the ice was.- It took you by surprise that ice was slippy?
0:13:07 > 0:13:08Anyway, it's time for us to go,
0:13:08 > 0:13:12- but there's lots more from the mega berg to come.- Like what?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Well, looking underwater, for starters.
0:13:14 > 0:13:15It's incredible down there,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18and Chris gets help from the divers to examine
0:13:18 > 0:13:20some amazing creatures that light up all by themselves.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25But that's just a couple of the many things that will blow your mind!