There are a few regions that still prove tricky for scientists looking to set up shop. Icy areas such as those found in Antarctica are especially troublesome for maintaining research stations because of the difficulty in getting researchers supplies, and doing so without polluting too much. Belgium hopes its new energy self-sufficient climate base, the Princess Elisabeth, will set an example for other research teams looking to study inhospitable regions with minimal impact.

The Princess Elisabeth, which looks like it was taken from the set of Dune, uses both solar and wind power to stay operational. It's considered to be emissions-free, so it should allow researchers to study climate changes without contributing to it. Gathering clean energy on site not only lowers the effect the station has on the environment, but also the impact of vehicles delivering fuel to the station. The Princess Elisabeth is scheduled to be deployed later this month and will join Japanese and Russian bases already established in Antarctica. — Kevin Hall

MSNBC, via TreeHugger