About

Earth has two ends. We think that is one of the most interesting things about it.

This is a site about the top and bottom of the planet and the way so much of our world comes in opposing pairs: north and south, day and night, June and December, a magnet’s two poles. We write short, accurate notes about them, and we sell a small line of goods for people who love maps, wildlife and science.

About the name

In science, bipolar can mean belonging to both poles. Biologists use it for species found near both ends of the Earth, and climate scientists use it for a planet with ice caps at both ends. That is the sense we mean, and the only one.

The same word is also the name of a real health condition. This site is not about that condition. We hold no health information, we do not make jokes about mental health, and none of our products carry the word. If anything here reads otherwise, please let us know and we will change it.

If you came here looking for information about bipolar disorder, the US National Institute of Mental Health (nimh.nih.gov) is a reliable place to start, along with a doctor. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any hour.

What we write

Expedition Notes covers the Arctic and Antarctica, magnetism, seasons and maps, along with the odd light-hearted piece on everyday opposites. We keep it politics-free.

Who we are

This site is run by One Stop Enterprises, LLC, a small company in Springboro, Ohio, a comfortable distance from either pole.