Why huddle? Scientists are using time-lapse technology to track the subtle yet highly coordinated behavior that helps emperor penguins survive in one of the world’s harshest environments. These observations provide important information about the overall health of penguin colonies—and allow scientists to better predict how this endangered species will respond to changes in temperature, sea ice, and other environmental factors related to climate change. The newest installment of our Webby-winning

Do you know why penguins huddle together in massive groups during the Antarctic winter? It's all about survival. Emperor penguins form tight huddles of thousands, taking turns rotating from the freezing outer edge to the warm center. This behavior keeps their body temperature stable and protects chicks from deadly winds that can drop below -60 degrees Celsius. Scientists found that the huddle moves like a wave with each penguin shifting slightly every 30 to 60 seconds to keep the group balanced.