07/24/2026 | Polar Journal AG Team

Greenland at a glance

Greenland is far more than ice, with most of its Inuit population living along the coasts where culture, economy, and environment are closely connected. A coastal settlement in Greenland (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Greenland has recently received increased international attention. Beyond this, the island i

07/23/2026 | Heiner Kubny

China launches its 16th Arctic expedition

The Xuelong 2 leaves the port of Dalian and sets off on China’s 16th Arctic expedition. (Photo: MNR)China has officially launched its 16th Arctic expedition. It is the country’s first research mission to the Arctic under the current 15th Five-Year Plan. The expedition set sail on 3 July 2026 from th

07/22/2026 | Heiner Kubny

The Arctic: Reduced visibility for shipping

Thick fog in the Arctic is hampering shipping. With climate change and rising temperatures, reduced visibility is becoming more common in some regions, posing new challenges for navigation. (Photo: Rosatom)The effects of climate change in the Arctic are affecting not only sea ice but, increasingly,

07/21/2026 | Heiner Kubny

Argobuoys provide new insights into the Southern Ocean

Oceanographer Natalia Dikul with an Argobuoy that records temperature, salinity and other oceanographic data at depths of up to 1,500 metres. (Photo: Yuriy Shepeta, NASC)Using six autonomous Argobuoys, Ukrainian scientists have carried out the first-ever year-round oceanographic study in the Bransfi

07/20/2026 | Léa Zinsli

The Seasonal Color Change of the Arctic Fox

The Arctic fox changes its coat with the seasons, shifting from brown in summer to white in winter to stay camouflaged year round. An Arctic fox in its white winter coat, providing camouflage in snowy environments (Photo: Jonatan Pie via Wikimedia, CC0 1.0)The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is one of t

07/19/2026 | Greta Paulsdottir

Jacques-Yves Cousteau – The man with the bobble hat

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born on 11 June 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, near Bordeaux. Cousteau was a French pioneer, renowned worldwide for his marine research and for documenting it on film. In his films, his red woollen bobble hat was his trademark. Cousteau died on 25 June 1997 in Paris.Jacques

07/18/2026 | Marcel Schütz

Record polar bear pressure on eider nesting islands in Kongsfjorden

Common eider incubating eggs (Photo: Heiner Kubny)An unusually intense summer of polar bear visits has put one of Svalbard’s key eider duck breeding areas under heavy pressure. In Kongsfjorden, researchers from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) recorded the highest number of bear vi

07/17/2026 | Polar Journal AG Team

How Glaciers Break Into Icebergs

Glaciers are constantly moving, and when large pieces of ice break off into the sea, they form icebergs in a process known as calving. Glacier front where icebergs can break off (Photo: Léa Zinsli)Glaciers may look solid and unchanging, but they are constantly moving. One of the most dramatic signs

07/16/2026 | Heiner Kubny

Russia is expanding its influence in the Arctic

The Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, part of Project 10510 ‘Lider’, is set to become the world’s most powerful icebreaker with an output of 120 megawatts (163,000 PS) and enable year-round shipping through the Northeast Passage. (Photo: Rosatomflot)With the construction of the new nucle

07/15/2026 | Rosamaria Kubny

Antarctica: First dinosaur discovery confirmed

Titanosaurs were giant herbivorous sauropods of the Cretaceous period and were widespread across the southern continents.A bone discovered as far back as 1985 on the Antarctic Peninsula has now been officially identified as the first known dinosaur fossil ever found on the Antarctic continent. The v

07/14/2026 | Heiner Kubny

Air bubbles tell the story of the climate

Dr Daniel Baggenstos monitors a sublimation process in which greenhouse gases trapped in bubbles are extracted from a 50 g ice sample without the ice melting. (Photo: Mark Horstman)As part of the Australian ‘Million Year Ice Core’ (MYIC) project, scientists are studying air bubbles that have been tr

07/13/2026 | Léa Zinsli

Pyramiden, Frozen in Time

Decades after its abandonment, the Soviet mining settlement of Pyramiden remains suspended between Arctic wilderness, preserved history and the slow return of nature. An abandoned swing in Pyramiden (Photo: Léa Zinsli)Pyramiden is often described as a ghost town, but the former Soviet settlement on

Science

07/21/2026| Heiner Kubny

Argobuoys provide new insights into the Southern Ocean

Oceanographer Natalia Dikul with an Argobuoy that records temperature, salinity and other oceanographic data at depths of up to 1,500 metres. (Photo: Yuriy Shepeta, NASC)Using six autonomous Argobuoys, Ukrainian scientists have carried out the first-ever year-round oceanographic study in the Bransfi

07/20/2026| Léa Zinsli

The Seasonal Color Change of the Arctic Fox

The Arctic fox changes its coat with the seasons, shifting from brown in summer to white in winter to stay camouflaged year round. An Arctic fox in its white winter coat, providing camouflage in snowy environments (Photo: Jonatan Pie via Wikimedia, CC0 1.0)The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is one of t

07/18/2026| Marcel Schütz

Record polar bear pressure on eider nesting islands in Kongsfjorden

Common eider incubating eggs (Photo: Heiner Kubny)An unusually intense summer of polar bear visits has put one of Svalbard’s key eider duck breeding areas under heavy pressure. In Kongsfjorden, researchers from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) recorded the highest number of bear vi

07/15/2026| Rosamaria Kubny

Antarctica: First dinosaur discovery confirmed

Titanosaurs were giant herbivorous sauropods of the Cretaceous period and were widespread across the southern continents.A bone discovered as far back as 1985 on the Antarctic Peninsula has now been officially identified as the first known dinosaur fossil ever found on the Antarctic continent. The v

07/14/2026| Heiner Kubny

Air bubbles tell the story of the climate

Dr Daniel Baggenstos monitors a sublimation process in which greenhouse gases trapped in bubbles are extracted from a 50 g ice sample without the ice melting. (Photo: Mark Horstman)As part of the Australian ‘Million Year Ice Core’ (MYIC) project, scientists are studying air bubbles that have been tr

07/12/2026| Heiner Kubny

Advances in Antarctic Research

Possesses almost colorless blood because it lacks hemoglobin (the red blood pigment) – a unique adaptation to the cold Antarctic waters. (Photo: WikiCommons)Antarctica is one of the most extreme habitats on Earth. Temperatures close to the freezing point pose major challenges for organisms, as many

07/10/2026| Léa Zinsli

Hauke Trinks and the Idea That Life Began in Ice 

German physicist Hauke Trinks combined unconventional origin-of-life research with years of Arctic overwintering expeditions alongside Marie Tièche. The former research station at Kinnvika, Nordaustlandet, Svalbard (Photo: Christopher Michel)In 1999, Hauke Trinks sailed alone from Hamburg to the nor

07/09/2026| Rosamaria Kubny

Collins Bay: New protected area in Antarctica

The skua, also known as the predatory gull, is a skilled hunter and scavenger. With its strength, intelligence and adaptability, it is one of Antarctica’s most significant seabirds. (Photo: NASC)At their meeting in Japan in May, the signatory states to the Antarctic Treaty unanimously supported the

Politics

07/23/2026, Heiner Kubny

China launches its 16th Arctic expedition

The Xuelong 2 leaves the port of Dalian and sets off on China’s 16th Arctic expedition. (Photo: MNR)China has officially launched its 16th Arctic expedition. It is the country’s first research mission to the Arctic under the current 15th Five-Year Plan. The expedition set sail on 3 July 2026 from th

07/16/2026, Heiner Kubny

Russia is expanding its influence in the Arctic

The Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, part of Project 10510 ‘Lider’, is set to become the world’s most powerful icebreaker with an output of 120 megawatts (163,000 PS) and enable year-round shipping through the Northeast Passage. (Photo: Rosatomflot)With the construction of the new nucle

06/17/2026, Heiner Kubny

Tourism: Murmansk Reconnects with Svalbard

The Professor Molchanov belongs to the so-called “Akademik Shuleykin class” of small research vessels. It was specifically designed to operate in cold waters and near-ice regions, making it particularly suitable for expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic.After an interruption of almost three decade

06/16/2026, Heiner Kubny

New Polar Research Vessel for India

This is what the new Indian research vessel is expected to look like in the future — modern technology and innovative equipment are set to establish new standards for maritime research. (Photo: NCPOR)On April 8, 2026, a major milestone was reached in the construction of a new Indian ocean research v

06/09/2026, Heiner Kubny

Increasing Microplastic Pollution in the Arctic

Due to the influence of tides and mechanical breakdown, plastic in water is transformed into microplastics. These are tiny plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm (up to 5000 micrometers). (Photo: Unsplash)While the world powers compete for control of the Arctic, a new and unexpected con

06/07/2026, Heiner Kubny

Bulgarian Antarctic Research

The St. Kliment Ohridski Station is a central pillar of Bulgaria’s Antarctic strategy: it strengthens the country’s international research presence while also serving as a training site for young scientists in the natural and geosciences. (Photo: BAI)Bulgaria began its Antarctic activities as early

05/26/2026, Pamela da Costa

The Madrid Protocol: A Long-Term Spatial Ordering Mechanism

The Madrid Protocol functions as a long-term spatial ordering device. This environmental agreement protects Antarctic space in a hierarchical manner while simultaneously defining the conditions for its governance and management. In doing so, it reveals a blurred boundary between environmental conser

05/25/2026, Léa Zinsli

Krill fishing and bycatch in the Southern Ocean

Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean is tightly managed, but new research shows that bycatch and local fishing pressure remain important concerns. Krill fishery and dependent wildlife in the Southern Ocean (Illustration: Léa Zinsli)Antarctic krill supports not only a unique marine ecosystem but also

Society

07/19/2026, Greta Paulsdottir

Jacques-Yves Cousteau – The man with the bobble hat

Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born on 11 June 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, near Bordeaux. Cousteau was a French pioneer, renowned worldwide for his marine research and for documenting it on film. In his films, his red woollen bobble hat was his trademark. Cousteau died on 25 June 1997 in Paris.Jacques

07/13/2026, Léa Zinsli

Pyramiden, Frozen in Time

Decades after its abandonment, the Soviet mining settlement of Pyramiden remains suspended between Arctic wilderness, preserved history and the slow return of nature. An abandoned swing in Pyramiden (Photo: Léa Zinsli)Pyramiden is often described as a ghost town, but the former Soviet settlement on

07/04/2026, Polar Journal AG Team

Arctic Row 2026: Swiss Expedition Plans Historic Row Across the Arctic

Happy Days underway in Adventfjorden (Photo: Janic Spinas)Four Swiss adventurers will begin the Arctic Row 2026 expedition at midnight between 3 and 4 July 2026, departing from Svalbard. Their goal is to complete a historic human-powered row of more than 3,000 kilometres to the edge of the Arctic se

06/29/2026, Léa Zinsli

Unequal pollutant exposure in men and women in the Arctic

Arctic dietary pollution exposes men and women to different levels of contaminants, reflecting differences in diet and biology. Illustration of a coastal village in GreenlandThe Arctic is often portrayed as a remote and pristine region, yet it is increasingly shaped by pollution originating far beyo

06/26/2026, Léa Zinsli

Arctic Wildlife and Human Health in a Changing Environment

As climate change reshapes Arctic ecosystems, the close ties between wildlife and food systems are increasing the risk of diseases passing from animals to people. Key zoonotic pathogens in the Arctic and their animal or environmental sourcesThe Arctic is often imagined as a remote wilderness of ice

06/24/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Midwinter 2026: Greetings from the eternal ice

Midwinter at the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Station in Antarctica – the low-hanging sun bathes the icy landscape in a unique light and highlights the rugged beauty of the polar winter.21 June is a special day for participants in Antarctic expeditions from all over the world: it is Midwinter, the t

06/14/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Greenlandic cuisine – Kalaallit Nunaat

A traditional dish from Greenland that captures the flavors of the North. Tender reindeer meat is combined with fresh berries and herbs to create a unique explosion of flavors. The hearty wildness of the meat is balanced by the sweet freshness of the berries, while the herbs add an earthy note. This

06/12/2026, Léa Zinsli

More Than Transport: Human–Dog Cooperation in the Arctic

In the Arctic, humans and sled dogs form a cooperative system that combines mobility, sensory awareness, and shared learning to adapt to extreme conditions. Sled dog in Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)For millennia, survival in the Arctic has depended on close cooperation between humans and dogs. Rather

Culture

07/13/2026, Léa Zinsli

Pyramiden, Frozen in Time

Decades after its abandonment, the Soviet mining settlement of Pyramiden remains suspended between Arctic wilderness, preserved history and the slow return of nature. An abandoned swing in Pyramiden (Photo: Léa Zinsli)Pyramiden is often described as a ghost town, but the former Soviet settlement on

07/03/2026, Polar Journal AG Team

How Early Explorers Survived the Cold

Survival in the polar regions depended on practical skills, careful planning, and the ability to adapt to extreme cold. Early polar expeditions required practical skills to travel across snow and ice and withstand extreme coldEarly polar explorers faced extreme cold without the advanced technology w

06/26/2026, Léa Zinsli

Arctic Wildlife and Human Health in a Changing Environment

As climate change reshapes Arctic ecosystems, the close ties between wildlife and food systems are increasing the risk of diseases passing from animals to people. Key zoonotic pathogens in the Arctic and their animal or environmental sourcesThe Arctic is often imagined as a remote wilderness of ice

06/14/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Greenlandic cuisine – Kalaallit Nunaat

A traditional dish from Greenland that captures the flavors of the North. Tender reindeer meat is combined with fresh berries and herbs to create a unique explosion of flavors. The hearty wildness of the meat is balanced by the sweet freshness of the berries, while the herbs add an earthy note. This

06/12/2026, Léa Zinsli

More Than Transport: Human–Dog Cooperation in the Arctic

In the Arctic, humans and sled dogs form a cooperative system that combines mobility, sensory awareness, and shared learning to adapt to extreme conditions. Sled dog in Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)For millennia, survival in the Arctic has depended on close cooperation between humans and dogs. Rather

05/24/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Argentine Cuisine: Matambre a la Pizza

Matambre a la Pizza is a delicious Argentine dish that combines the best elements of grilled meat and pizza. The tender, juicy beef is topped with a flavorful tomato sauce, melted cheese, and fresh herbs. Every bite delivers an explosion of flavors, achieved through the perfect balance of savory mea

05/09/2026, Léa Zinsli

Mine 7 Closure Ends Norwegian Coal Mining in Longyearbyen

The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard. View from Mine 7 overlooking Adventdalen, Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The closure of Mine 7 on Svalbard marks the end of coal mining in Longyea

04/22/2026, Heiner Kubny

Arctic Voices 2026

The Stories we keep – The Knowledge we shareThe ‘Arctic Voices’ event series is a multidisciplinary cultural festival taking place in Bern (Switzerland) from 23 April to 14 May 2026, bringing Indigenous voices, perspectives and stories from Arctic regions to Bern and showcasing them through a variet

Economy

07/16/2026, Heiner Kubny

Russia is expanding its influence in the Arctic

The Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, part of Project 10510 ‘Lider’, is set to become the world’s most powerful icebreaker with an output of 120 megawatts (163,000 PS) and enable year-round shipping through the Northeast Passage. (Photo: Rosatomflot)With the construction of the new nucle

07/02/2026, Heiner Kubny

PORT LAWNA: The Failure of a Billion-Dollar Project

GTLK is responsible for the construction of the port complex and investment management. The new facilities include a 508 m² transfer station and three conveyor belts with a total length of 145.7 meters. (Photo: GTLK Press Service)New facilities at the Lawna coal transshipment complex in Murmansk hav

06/30/2026, Heiner Kubny

Milestone for floating nuclear power plants

On rails to St. Petersburg: The first RITM-200S reactor pressure vessel leaves the ZiO-Podolsk plant near Moscow. (Photo: Rosatom)The Russian state-owned corporation Rosatom has made significant progress in its program for floating nuclear power plants. At the end of May, the first RITM-200S reactor

06/09/2026, Heiner Kubny

Increasing Microplastic Pollution in the Arctic

Due to the influence of tides and mechanical breakdown, plastic in water is transformed into microplastics. These are tiny plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm (up to 5000 micrometers). (Photo: Unsplash)While the world powers compete for control of the Arctic, a new and unexpected con

05/25/2026, Léa Zinsli

Krill fishing and bycatch in the Southern Ocean

Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean is tightly managed, but new research shows that bycatch and local fishing pressure remain important concerns. Krill fishery and dependent wildlife in the Southern Ocean (Illustration: Léa Zinsli)Antarctic krill supports not only a unique marine ecosystem but also

05/11/2026, Léa Zinsli

Cold-adapted microbes and their biotechnological potential 

Cold-adapted microbes produce enzymes that function at low temperatures, offering potential applications in industry and biotechnology. From ice to application: cold-adapted microbes and their biotechnological potential (Sketch: Léa Zinsli)Building on recent insights into how microbes survive in the

05/09/2026, Léa Zinsli

Mine 7 Closure Ends Norwegian Coal Mining in Longyearbyen

The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard. View from Mine 7 overlooking Adventdalen, Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The closure of Mine 7 on Svalbard marks the end of coal mining in Longyea

04/26/2026, Heiner Kubny

Russia’s LNG Projects Under Sanctions

Yamal LNG facilities in Sabetta. (Photo: Novatek)The Arctic is gaining increasing international importance due to its vast natural resources, especially natural gas. Russia plays a central role in this context, particularly through its liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. However, since 2022, Weste

Tourism

07/04/2026, Polar Journal AG Team

Arctic Row 2026: Swiss Expedition Plans Historic Row Across the Arctic

Happy Days underway in Adventfjorden (Photo: Janic Spinas)Four Swiss adventurers will begin the Arctic Row 2026 expedition at midnight between 3 and 4 July 2026, departing from Svalbard. Their goal is to complete a historic human-powered row of more than 3,000 kilometres to the edge of the Arctic se

06/21/2026, Heiner Kubny

Qaqortoq Airport has opened

The new airport in Qaqortoq takes over the role of the former Narsarsuaq Airport and becomes the central air hub of South Greenland. (Photo: Greenland Airports)With the official opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq on April 16, 2026, South Greenland entered a new phase of economic and tourism deve

06/17/2026, Heiner Kubny

Tourism: Murmansk Reconnects with Svalbard

The Professor Molchanov belongs to the so-called “Akademik Shuleykin class” of small research vessels. It was specifically designed to operate in cold waters and near-ice regions, making it particularly suitable for expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic.After an interruption of almost three decade

05/16/2026, Léa Zinsli

Rain, Slush and Record Temperatures Mark April on Svalbard

Exceptionally warm temperatures and heavy rain disrupted research, tourism and winter activities across Svalbard during one of the Arctic archipelago’s warmest Aprils on record. Snowmobiles stand on wet, melting tundra in Longyearbyen on April 19th during an exceptionally warm spring on Svalbard (Ph

05/15/2026, Marcel Schütz

Young Ice Swimmer Conquers Polar Waters in Svalbard

Frankie Jackson in Svalbard (Photo: Marcel Schütz / Svalbard Photography)A remarkable achievement unfolded in the Arctic waters of Svalbard this week as 15-year-old British ice swimmer Frankie Jackson completed a 1-kilometer polar swim at Bore Glacier, Svalbard, in temperatures well below freezing.

05/07/2026, Heiner Kubny

Hantavirus Alert After Flight: 82 Fellow Passengers Being Sought

The South African Airline Airlink has connected the remote island of Saint Helena with Johannesburg regularly since 2017. (Photo: Airlink)Following several deaths aboard the expedition ship MV Hondius, the World Health Organization has issued an urgent appeal. Authorities are searching for 82 passen

05/04/2026, Heiner Kubny

Three Dead After Virus Outbreak on Cruise Ship

Expedition voyage with the Hondius: 170 passengers en route north from Antarctica. (Foto: Oceanwide Expeditions)A deadly outbreak of an acute respiratory illness has occurred aboard the expedition cruise ship “MV Hondius” off the coast of Cape Verde. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),

04/20/2026, Léa Zinsli

Svalbard introduces mandatory certification for Arctic guides

From 2027, guides outside Svalbard’s settlements must hold official approval under a new certification system. Information event held in Svalbard Svalbard is set to introduce a new, formal guide certification system in the Arctic, marking a shift in how tourism and field safety are regulated in remo

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