Physician Assistant Heidi Lim jumps in the air to show how long her shadow is Feb 22, 2006, a month before sunset at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Credit: B. Barnett, National Science Foundation

The International Polar Year kicks off this week. It's a two-year research and exploration program to better understand the poles and how they affect Earth's climate. In this hour, we'll talk with researchers here and at the poles about the program and its goals, and get a preview of the projects to come.

Plus, details on a landmark energy and environmental deal made this week in Texas. A deal has been reached to sell TXU Corp., the Texas electrical utility, in a $32 billion buyout by private equity investors. What makes the deal more than just a business story, however, is that the sale is dependent on the utility's scrapping plans for several coal-fired generating stations, a condition negotiated by environmental advocates. The new owners of the utility promise to stop eight of 11 coal-fired plants that had been planned by TXU. The deal is far from being a sure thing, however. Rumors are circulating about a possible rival takeover bid. We'll get the details. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Wade Goodwyn
National Correspondent
National Public Radio
Dallas, Texas

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Mary Albert
Past Chair, U.S. National Committee for the International Polar Year
Senior Research Engineer
U.S. Army's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL)
Adjunct Professor, Thayer School of Engineering and the Environmental Sciences Department
Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire

Jody Deming
Member, U.S. National Committee for the International Polar Year
Professor, School of Oceanography and Astrobiology Program
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

Will Steger
Polar Explorer and Expedition Leader
Leader, Global Warming 101 Expedition
Ely and Saint Paul, Minnesota

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This segment produced by Karin Vergoth