07/21/2025 | Polar Journal AG Team
The Polar Retrospective – French Arctic Defense Strategy, gravity waves in the Arctic Ocean and the eruption of a volcano in Iceland
The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at the French defense strategy for the Arctic, a new research group investigating gravity waves in the Arctic Ocean and the eruption of a volcano.French LHA Dixmude with snow in a Norwegia
07/18/2025 | Julia Hager
How early life could have survived the “Snowball Earth” phases
While the Earth endured icy millions of years, early life may have survived near the equator, according to a new study of microorganisms in Antarctic meltwater ponds.Meltwater ponds on the McMurdo Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. Photo: Ian Hawes, University of Waikato The Antarctic is once again provi
07/17/2025 | Mirjana Binggeli
Greenland Sled Dogs Reveal a Millennia-Old Story
For nearly a thousand years, Greenlandic sled dogs, or Qimmit, have accompanied Inuit communities across the frozen expanses of the Arctic. A recent genetic study reveals the ancient origins, regional diversity, and cultural importance of these four-legged companions A symbol of the Arctic, the sled
07/16/2025 | Dr. Michael Wenger
China’s Arctic Paradox: Calling for Caution Amidst Shipping Expansion
While Chinese scientists issue urgent pleas to limit Arctic shipping to protect the region from the environmental impact, Chinese shipping companies plan on sending more and more vessels into the Arctic As Arctic sea ice continues to decline, new shipping routes are opening up, offering potentially
07/15/2025 | Camille Lin
Thwaites: countdown to disintegration
The Thwaites Glacier is living out its last years of stability: the disintegration of its floating shelf has begun. As spectators of a predicted collapse, we witness the countdown of a colossus whose melting could raise the oceans by 65 centimetres. The icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer at the edge of
07/14/2025 | Polar Journal AG Team
The Polar Retrospective – Successful Antarctic Citizen Science Project, Arctic Toxins and Erupting Volcanoes
The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at the impact of an NASA backed citizen science project in Antarctica, the increase in toxins levels in the Alaskan Arctic, and melting glaciers that might trigger more volcanoes eruptions
07/11/2025 | Dr. Michael Wenger
Beyond the “Greening”: Antarctica, Scientific Debate and the Media Narrative
A 2024 study claimed Antarctica's peninsula is rapidly "greening." However, two new papers challenge this and open a debate of how dramatically Antarctic science should be communicated. A striking headline emerged from a 2024 study in Nature Geoscience: the Antarctic Peninsula is undergoing a widesp
07/10/2025 | Gastautor
More and more tourists are flocking to Antarctica. Let’s stop it from being loved to death
Professors Darla Hatton MacDonald and Elizabeth Leane explain how new market based tools can help to prevent overtourism in Antarctica in this article provided by The Conversation. Space for tourists and wildlife is limited even te seemingly vast wilderness of Antarctica. (Image: Michael Wenger)Darl
07/09/2025 | Mirjana Binggeli
“No Arctic Sovereignty Without Inuit Security”: Nunavut Leads the Arctic Debate
As the Arctic once again attracts military and economic interest, Nunavut reminds Ottawa and the world of a fundamental truth: Canadian sovereignty in the North cannot exist without the Inuit. Gathered in Iqaluit, political leaders, elders, and youth defended a vision rooted in security, culture, an
07/08/2025 | Camille Lin
A bird that’s an emperor in name only
No sooner has the emperor penguin begun to reveal its secrets than it’s already disappearing. Beacon of a climate in crisis, this emblematic Antarctic bird could disappear before we even get to know it. The emperor penguin(Aptenodytes forsteri) lives exclusively around Antarctica and is distinguishe
07/07/2025 | Polar Journal AG Team
The Polar Retrospective – Permafrost thawing, a shift in Nordic skies, and ATCM closure
The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at ancient permafrost thawing, a change in airline ownership, and the conclusion of Antarctic Treaty meetings without any major declarations.Svalbard airport overview, Image: Fasttailwind
07/04/2025 | Gastautor
Antarctic research is in decline, and the timing couldn’t be worse
Melting glaciers, tipping points, sea ice in distress. The Antarctic continent is not doing well in the face of climate change. Yet, the scientific research, as crucial it is to undersand the different implied phenomenons, is declining in number. Photo: Julia HagerDespite accelerating climate impact