09/01/2026 | Rosamaria Kubny
Bird Flu Threat: Australia Withdraws Team from Macquarie Island
Young southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) have made themselves comfortable right between the buildings of the Australian research station on Macquarie Island. Seals regularly gather there among the station buildings, and researchers must share the limited space with the island’s animal inhabi
08/31/2026 | Yana Kirichenko
Russia maps its historical heritage on Svalbard
The Russian Geographical Society says it plans to document hundreds of objects linked to Russian history on Svalbard for a new Arctic heritage database and atlas. Barentsburg, seen from Grønfjorden, is Svalbard’s only permanently inhabited Russian settlement. (Image: Svalbard Photography)The Russian
08/30/2026 | Christian Hug
Nobile’s Drama and Amundsen’s End
Umberto Nobile was born on 21 January 1885 in Lauro, near Naples. Nobile was an Italian airship pioneer and general. He became particularly famous for his polar expeditions with his two airships, the ‘Norge’ and the ‘Italia’. Umberto Nobile died on 30 July 1978 in Rome.Things could have turned out v
08/29/2026 | Yana Kirichenko
New Bird Flu Case in Svalbard Polar Bear
Confirmed avian influenza infections in polar bears remain rare. (Image: Polar Journal Library)This makes it the third confirmed case of bird flu in a polar bear worldwide, but evidence suggests exposure on Svalbard is far more widespread.A second polar bear on Svalbard has tested positive for highl
08/28/2026 | Polar Journal AG Team
Ukraine and Indonesia deepen cooperation in Antarctic research
From the tropics to Antarctica, Indonesia and Ukraine are finding new opportunities for scientific cooperation. With decades of Antarctic experience, a permanent research base and regular expeditions, Ukraine is opening its polar infrastructure to Indonesian researchers through a new scientific part
08/27/2026 | Heiner Kubny
New Zealand begins construction of the new Scott Base
Artist’s impression of the new Scott Base on Ross Island. The new development includes modern research and operational buildings as well as an upgraded energy infrastructure, and is due to be completed by 2030. (Artist’s impression: Antarctica New Zealand)New Zealand has signed the construction cont
08/27/2026 | Heiner Kubny
New Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker delayed
The ‘Chukotka’ in the Arctic pack ice. (AI-generated illustration: PolarJournal)Russia’s expansion of its nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet is being delayed. The ‘Chukotka’, the next icebreaker in the Project 22220 class, is not due to enter service at the end of 2026 as planned, but not until 2027.T
08/26/2026 | Rosamaria Kubny
Thousands of whales migrate to East Greenland
A fin whale swims through the calm waters of Greenland. These large baleen whales are now being spotted with increasing frequency off the coast of East Greenland too. (Photo: Aqqa Rosing-Asvid / Visit Greenland)A remarkable change is taking place off the east coast of Greenland. Fin whales, humpback
08/26/2026 | Heiner Kubny
South Korea tests container route through the Arctic
The PanStar Acro in the port of Busan ahead of its first trial voyage via the Northern Sea Route to Europe. The 2,758 TEU container ship is set to explore new possibilities for a shorter sea route between South Korea and Europe. (Photo: PanStar Group)South Korea is entering the race for new shipping
08/25/2026 | Heiner Kubny
Norway continues to rely on oil and gas from the Arctic
The LNG plant on Melkøya near Hammerfest at dusk. On the right, the gas tanker Arctic Discoverer is docked at the terminal to be loaded. (Photo: Virtual-Pano / Wikimedia Commons)Norway intends to continue developing its oil and gas reserves in the Barents Sea – even though the European Union is crit
08/25/2026 | Rosamaria Kubny
The return of the grey petrels to Macquarie Island
A grey petrel (Procellaria cinerea) glides elegantly across the Southern Ocean with its long, narrow wings. This endangered seabird species spends most of its life on the open sea and returns only to breed on a few sub-Antarctic islands such as Macquarie Island. (Photo: Australian Antarctic Division
08/24/2026 | Yana Kirichenko
Russia tests new stratospheric technologies in the high Arctic
The nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy. Those behind the experiments say that conducting such work regularly and at the required frequency is only possible with the support of Russia’s nuclear icebreaker fleet. (Image: Christopher Michel / CC BY 2.0 / cropped)First-of-their-kind experimental l
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