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.
05/14/2026 | Heiner Kubny
Brussels Imposes Sanctions on the Port of Murmansk
The port of the city of Murmansk is one of Russia’s most important seaports. It is particularly significant because it remains ice-free year-round—even in winter. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)On April 23, 2026, the European Union adopted new measures against Russia as part of its 20th sanctions package. The
05/13/2026 | Heiner Kubny
Four members of the Franklin expedition identified
Canadian researchers have now established the identities of four further bodies. Three of the men were part of the Erebus crew. The image shows researcher Douglas Stenton recovering a skull in Erebus Bay. (Photo: University of Waterloo)Almost 180 years after the tragic end of the Franklin expedition
05/12/2026 | Heiner Kubny
May 12, 1926 — Nobile Reaches the North Pole
The airship “Norge” at takeoff in SpitsbergenOn May 12, 1926, the Italian aviation pioneer Umberto Nobile flew over the North Pole in the airship “Norge,” together with the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen and the American Lincoln Ellsworth. This is still regarded today as the first verified
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
05/10/2026 | Heiner Kubny
Antarctica: A Glimpse into the Future of Seabirds
The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is one of the most impressive birds in the world – especially because of its gigantic wingspan of up to 3.5 meters. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)A recent scientific study shows that ancient bird droppings can provide important clues about the development of seabird
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
05/08/2026 | Léa Zinsli
Life in a frozen world: microbes in the cryosphere
Microbial life thrives across Arctic and Antarctic environments, using specialized adaptations to survive extreme cold, ice and limited resources. Commuting to sampling location in Arctic waters (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The Arctic and Antarctic are often seen as frozen deserts, where life struggles to sur
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
05/06/2026 | Heiner Kubny
50 Years of Georg Forster Station – A Milestone in Polar Research
The Georg Forster Station, a research station of the former GDR in the Schirmacher Oasis (Queen Maud Land), was located in a rare ice-free region of Antarctica and therefore offered particularly favorable conditions for scientific research. (Photo: Alfred Wegener Institute)On April 21, 1976, the fut
05/05/2026 | Pamela da Costa
The Quiet Power of Nature in the Geopolitical Game
The Southern Cone region, composed of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, constitutes the southernmost tip of South America and, in light of the 1982 armed conflict, cannot be analyzed without also considering the presence of the United Kingdom through the Falkland/Malvinas Islands. This territor
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