Soviet-US team embarking on study of Antarctic sea

A Soviet ship sailed from Leningrad Tuesday on a joint US-Soviet expedition to the Antarctic to explore the world's coldest sea, the Tass news agency reports. The Mikhail Somov, carrying 13 Soviet specialists, was heading for Helsinki to pick up 13 US scientists before continuing its journey to the Weddell Sea.

The scientists will study the water, climate, and plant and animal life in the sea to try to solve the mystery of why it remains free of ice for much of the winter despite its closeness to the South Pole.