Looking at the Antarctic glaciers, Oprah says she can't help but think of global warming. Dr. Bruce Sidell, one of Neal's colleagues who's worked near the South Pole for more than 20 years, says he's witnessed the effects firsthand.

"I have seen rather dramatic changes since I first started coming down in 1987," he says. "In 2002, a piece of ice about the size of the state of Rhode Island came off the Larsen Ice Shelf. So we're talking about a lot of frozen water here."

Though they don't normally use Skype, Neal says the researchers have been taking advantage of the technology this week. They're connecting with students across the country and teaching lessons via the Internet. "I'm so inspired by that idea of you all using Skype to go into the classrooms," Oprah says. "I think I can teach to my girls in Africa from Skype."