"What we have seen this past year will likely be routine in about 15 years, although regionally the details will vary considerably," says climate expert Kevin Trenberth.
The new elements - elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 - complete the periodic table's seventh row and make science textbooks around the world instantly out-of-date.
Using technology built to withstand the harsh winters, scientists have managed to map the volcanos, rifts, and basins hidden under West Antarctica's ice sheet.