08/22/2025 | Polar Journal AG Team
A Farewell from the Polarjournal.net Team To our Incredible Community
After six years, the voyage of polarjournal.net has come to an end and the team bids a heartfelt Goodbye to all of you After a journey spanning six years of telling the stories of the polar worlds, PolarJournal.net is about to close its pages. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, we have strived to bri
08/21/2025 | Administrator
Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska is a reminder that the 49th state was once a Russian territory
On Aug. 15, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. It will reportedly be the first time a Russian leader has set foot in Alaska since Russia sold the territory to the U.S. 178 years ago. To mark the 150th anniversar
08/20/2025 | Julia Hager
Subglacial meltwater boosts Greenland’s summer plankton bloom
A comprehensive modeling study shows how subglacial meltwater triggers an additional summer bloom of phytoplankton in Disko Bay. At the same time, the climate-relevant carbon sequestration increases only slightly. Ocean currents around North America and Greenland in a NASA ECCO data visualization. S
08/19/2025 | Mirjana Binggeli
The polar bear, an emblematic subject of culture
Almost a fetish animal for scientists, a star attraction on Arctic cruises and a global climate icon, the polar bear goes far beyond its role as a symbolic species. From Inuit mythology to tales of exploration, from traditional sculpture to contemporary advertising, the polar bear has never ceased t
08/18/2025 | Dr. Michael Wenger
The Polar Retrospective – Subantarctic Visitor Changes, a 66-Year-Old Mystery Solved, and a Warning for Reindeer
The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at new regulations on subantarctic islands for visitors, the solution to a 66-year old Antarctic mystery, and a grim outlook for reindeer populations due to the changing climate.The changi
08/15/2025 | Camille Lin
Australia to detect HPAI-H5 on Heard Island
From September to December, a research team from Australian Antarctic Programs will be deployed on the sub-Antarctic island at 53 degrees south to assess the health of animal populations.King penguins on Heard Island. Image: Stephen Brown / Australian Antarctic Program Australia is bracing itself fo
08/14/2025 | Gastautor
Dagger beaks and strong wings: new fossils rewrite the penguin story and affirm NZ as a cradle of their evolution
Revealing a surprising diversity of ancient species just after the mass extinction that ended the age of dinosaurs, new fossil discoveries from North Canterbury in New Zealand show how early penguins developed powerful underwater adaptations and long, spear-like beaks. The findings affirm New Zealan
08/13/2025 | Julia Hager
Forgotten fault zone in the Yukon: Tintina fault could trigger a major earthquake
In Canada’s Yukon, the Tintina Fault has the potential for an earthquake exceeding magnitude 7.5. Dawson City lies dangerously close to the epicentre and could be severely affected by the shaking. The Tintina Fault is barely visible in Yukon’s landscape. Image: created with AI (ChatGPT) A research t
08/12/2025 | Dr. Michael Wenger
Launch of New South Georgia Entry Permit System Halted
The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands had planned to implement a new ETA system for visitors but had to delay these plans now. The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) has announced a last-minute postponement of its new Electronic Entry Permit sy
08/11/2025 | Polar Journal AG Team
The Polar Retrospective – A new map, a new vessel, and a new threat for Arctic foxes
The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at a new map of Alexander Island, a new Canadian inuit-owned fishing vessel, and a new viral threat for Arctic foxes on Svalbard. The Polar Retrospective is a collaborative effort by the e
08/08/2025 | Gastautor
Our DNA analysis of 75,000-year-old bones in Arctic caves reveals how animals responded to changing climates
DNA analysis of 75,000-year-old bones in Norwegian Arctic caves reveals how ancient animal communities adapted to periods of warming and cooling, providing insights into how modern wildlife might react to current climate change. Samuel Walker, Bournemouth University and Sanne Boessenkool, University
08/07/2025 | Mirjana Binggeli
Arctic lakes, when life stimulates methane
As global warming profoundly transforms Arctic ecosystems, a new study reveals that lakes at high latitudes may be releasing more methane than previously thought. This greenhouse gas, far more potent than CO₂, is produced in the sediments of lakes that have become more biologically productive. A wor