11/14/2026 | Heiner Kubny

China plans sixth Antarctic station in Marie Byrd Land

This is what China’s sixth research station at Cox Point in Marie Byrd Land is expected to look like. The planned summer station is set to accommodate around 25 scientists and logistics staff and, according to current plans, is due to be completed in 2027. (Visualisation: Chinese Antarctic Administr

11/14/2026 | Marcel Schütz

Norway’s spending on Svalbard rises to NOK 2.28 billion

The Northernmost Town in the World – Longyearbyen (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Norway spent around 20 percent more on Svalbard in 2025 than in the previous year, according to the latest figures from Statistics Norway. Government grants to Longyearbyen saw a particularly sharp increase.Total government expe

11/13/2026 | Heiner Kubny

New satellite measures Greenland’s ice sheet

The European Earth observation satellite Sentinel-3C measured the surface elevation of the Greenland ice sheet for the first time in early October 2026. The radar data show good agreement with existing elevation models and are expected to help monitor changes in the ice mass more accurately in futur

11/13/2026 | Marcel Schütz

Searching for the Northern Lights During the Polar Night on Svalbard

Northern Lights above Sarkofagen (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Around 1,000 kilometres north of Tromsø lies one of the northernmost permanently inhabited regions on Earth. While winter days grow shorter on the European mainland, the sun disappears completely below the horizon on Svalbard for several months.

11/12/2026 | Heiner Kubny

South Korea sets its sights on the icebreaker market

Artist’s impression of the new Swedish icebreaker, which is to be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. The 126-metre-long vessel is due to be delivered in 2029 and will support shipping in the Baltic Sea in future. (Illustration: PolarJournal)South Korea aims to play a greater role i

11/12/2026 | Heiner Kubny

From a desert state to a polar nation

Emirati polar researchers Ahmed Al Kaabi (left) and Badr Al Ameri are involved in Antarctic research as part of the Emirates Polar Programme. The two scientists from the National Centre of Meteorology are working closely with the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute. (Photo: Emirates Polar Programme / NCM)

11/11/2026 | Rosamaria Kubny

51 previously unknown viruses discovered in Antarctica

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) against a black background. These tiny crustaceans form an important food source for numerous animals in the Southern Ocean. A new study suggests that certain RNA viruses may be spread via the Antarctic food web. (Photo: Uwe Kils / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

11/11/2026 | Rosamaria Kubny

How emperor penguins master their extreme dives

An emperor penguin swims beneath the Antarctic sea ice. These birds can dive to depths of several hundred metres and go without breathing for an astonishingly long time. Researchers are investigating how they store their oxygen reserves and use them during the dive. (Illustration: PolarJournal)Emper

11/10/2026 | Rosamaria Kubny

Fewer catches for more pollock

A pollock (Pollachius virens) at the Ozeaneum in Stralsund. This species is widespread in the waters off northern Norway and the Barents Sea and is of great economic importance. Due to declining spawning stocks, Norway is reducing the catch quota for north-east Arctic pollock by 22 per cent in 2027.

11/10/2026 | Heiner Kubny

Antarctic lake offers insights into the early Earth

Conical stromatolites on the seabed of the Antarctic sub-sea. These structures, some of which are metres high, are built up by microbial communities and are reminiscent of life forms that existed on Earth billions of years ago. They are of particular interest to astrobiology as they provide insights

11/10/2026 | Heiner Kubny

Icebergs could slow down the weakening of the deep-ocean current

Table-icebergs drift amongst dense sea ice in the Weddell Sea. Ocean currents can carry these massive ice masses far to the north, where they release their meltwater into the ocean only once they are far from the Antarctic coast. (Photo: John Sonntag / NASA Operation IceBridge)The increasing loss of

11/09/2026 | Heiner Kubny

The deepest hole on Earth is in the Arctic

Artist’s impression of the Kola Superdeep Borehole (SG-3) on Russia’s Kola Peninsula during its operational period. Using the massive Uralmash-15000 drilling rig, Soviet scientists aimed to penetrate up to 15 kilometres into the Earth’s crust. In 1989, they reached a record depth of 12,262 metres. (

Science

11/13/2026| Heiner Kubny

New satellite measures Greenland’s ice sheet

The European Earth observation satellite Sentinel-3C measured the surface elevation of the Greenland ice sheet for the first time in early October 2026. The radar data show good agreement with existing elevation models and are expected to help monitor changes in the ice mass more accurately in futur

11/12/2026| Heiner Kubny

From a desert state to a polar nation

Emirati polar researchers Ahmed Al Kaabi (left) and Badr Al Ameri are involved in Antarctic research as part of the Emirates Polar Programme. The two scientists from the National Centre of Meteorology are working closely with the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute. (Photo: Emirates Polar Programme / NCM)

11/11/2026| Rosamaria Kubny

51 previously unknown viruses discovered in Antarctica

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) against a black background. These tiny crustaceans form an important food source for numerous animals in the Southern Ocean. A new study suggests that certain RNA viruses may be spread via the Antarctic food web. (Photo: Uwe Kils / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

11/11/2026| Rosamaria Kubny

How emperor penguins master their extreme dives

An emperor penguin swims beneath the Antarctic sea ice. These birds can dive to depths of several hundred metres and go without breathing for an astonishingly long time. Researchers are investigating how they store their oxygen reserves and use them during the dive. (Illustration: PolarJournal)Emper

11/10/2026| Heiner Kubny

Antarctic lake offers insights into the early Earth

Conical stromatolites on the seabed of the Antarctic sub-sea. These structures, some of which are metres high, are built up by microbial communities and are reminiscent of life forms that existed on Earth billions of years ago. They are of particular interest to astrobiology as they provide insights

11/10/2026| Heiner Kubny

Icebergs could slow down the weakening of the deep-ocean current

Table-icebergs drift amongst dense sea ice in the Weddell Sea. Ocean currents can carry these massive ice masses far to the north, where they release their meltwater into the ocean only once they are far from the Antarctic coast. (Photo: John Sonntag / NASA Operation IceBridge)The increasing loss of

11/08/2026| Rosamaria Kubny

Antarctic fish reveal their secret to survival

The Antarctic spinyhead fish (Harpagifer antarcticus) lives in the icy coastal waters of the Southern Ocean. Its cells are adapted to temperatures close to freezing. New research provides, for the first time, detailed insights into the processes that enable survival under these extreme conditions. (

11/08/2026| Heiner Kubny

Antarctic radar helps to better predict extreme weather

Northern lights above the PANSY radar at the Japanese Syowa Station in East Antarctica. The radar system, comprising more than 1,000 antennas, continuously measures winds at various altitudes in the atmosphere, thereby providing valuable data for weather and climate research. (Photo: Yuki Onishi / N

Politics

11/14/2026, Heiner Kubny

China plans sixth Antarctic station in Marie Byrd Land

This is what China’s sixth research station at Cox Point in Marie Byrd Land is expected to look like. The planned summer station is set to accommodate around 25 scientists and logistics staff and, according to current plans, is due to be completed in 2027. (Visualisation: Chinese Antarctic Administr

11/14/2026, Marcel Schütz

Norway’s spending on Svalbard rises to NOK 2.28 billion

The Northernmost Town in the World – Longyearbyen (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Norway spent around 20 percent more on Svalbard in 2025 than in the previous year, according to the latest figures from Statistics Norway. Government grants to Longyearbyen saw a particularly sharp increase.Total government expe

11/12/2026, Heiner Kubny

South Korea sets its sights on the icebreaker market

Artist’s impression of the new Swedish icebreaker, which is to be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. The 126-metre-long vessel is due to be delivered in 2029 and will support shipping in the Baltic Sea in future. (Illustration: PolarJournal)South Korea aims to play a greater role i

11/12/2026, Heiner Kubny

From a desert state to a polar nation

Emirati polar researchers Ahmed Al Kaabi (left) and Badr Al Ameri are involved in Antarctic research as part of the Emirates Polar Programme. The two scientists from the National Centre of Meteorology are working closely with the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute. (Photo: Emirates Polar Programme / NCM)

11/10/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Fewer catches for more pollock

A pollock (Pollachius virens) at the Ozeaneum in Stralsund. This species is widespread in the waters off northern Norway and the Barents Sea and is of great economic importance. Due to declining spawning stocks, Norway is reducing the catch quota for north-east Arctic pollock by 22 per cent in 2027.

11/09/2026, Heiner Kubny

The deepest hole on Earth is in the Arctic

Artist’s impression of the Kola Superdeep Borehole (SG-3) on Russia’s Kola Peninsula during its operational period. Using the massive Uralmash-15000 drilling rig, Soviet scientists aimed to penetrate up to 15 kilometres into the Earth’s crust. In 1989, they reached a record depth of 12,262 metres. (

11/09/2026, Marcel Schütz

Professor Molchanov remains in Barentsburg as Moscow renews protest

Professor Molchanov (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Two months after the Professor Molchanov was detained in Svalbard, Russia has again summoned a Norwegian diplomat. Days earlier, the Nord-Troms and Senja District Court had dismissed the Russian mining company Trust Arktikugol’s application for the vessel’s r

11/07/2026, Einar Johansen

Ittoqqortoormiit is divided over its time zone

Ittoqqortoormiit, East Greenland (Bild: Marcel Schütz)Since 2024, clocks in the East Greenland town of Ittoqqortoormiit have shown the same time as those in Nuuk. The local council chair would like the town to return to its former time zone. In a local survey, a single vote separated those who wante

Society

11/14/2026, Marcel Schütz

Norway’s spending on Svalbard rises to NOK 2.28 billion

The Northernmost Town in the World – Longyearbyen (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Norway spent around 20 percent more on Svalbard in 2025 than in the previous year, according to the latest figures from Statistics Norway. Government grants to Longyearbyen saw a particularly sharp increase.Total government expe

11/13/2026, Marcel Schütz

Searching for the Northern Lights During the Polar Night on Svalbard

Northern Lights above Sarkofagen (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Around 1,000 kilometres north of Tromsø lies one of the northernmost permanently inhabited regions on Earth. While winter days grow shorter on the European mainland, the sun disappears completely below the horizon on Svalbard for several months.

11/07/2026, Einar Johansen

Ittoqqortoormiit is divided over its time zone

Ittoqqortoormiit, East Greenland (Bild: Marcel Schütz)Since 2024, clocks in the East Greenland town of Ittoqqortoormiit have shown the same time as those in Nuuk. The local council chair would like the town to return to its former time zone. In a local survey, a single vote separated those who wante

11/03/2026, Heiner Kubny

Book review: The Last Horizon

Ice-cold passion – never-before-seen photographs from the Continent of Silence. The first magnificent illustrated volume on the geography and alpine history of the whole of AntarcticaAntarctica remains a continent full of mysteries. For it is only since the late 1980s that the mountains in the inter

10/30/2026, Polar Journal

Copenhagen prepares for an Arctic weekend

Nordatlantens Brygge, the festival’s main venue, stands on Copenhagen’s historic waterfront in the Christianshavn district. (Image: Manuel Cazzaniga / CC BY 2.0 /cropped)For one weekend, the Danish capital will become a meeting place for Arctic voices, ideas and traditions, uniting culture, science

10/23/2026, Polar Journal

A landmark win for Sámi literature

Sigbjørn Skåden, winner of the 2026 Nordic Council Literature Prize for Láŋtdievvá / Planterhaug. (Image: Knut Åserud / Cappelen Damm / press use)For only the second time in its history, the Nordic Council Literature Prize has gone to a Sámi-language work. What earned this year’s winner such recogni

10/16/2026, Polar Journal

26th Shackleton Autumn School Opens in Ireland

Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922), an Irish-born Antarctic explorer. (Image: Public Domain)The Irish town of Athy marks its connection to Ernest Shackleton with a festival of polar history, science, art and activities for all ages.From 16 to 18 October, Athy in County Kildare is hosting the 26th Sha

10/09/2026, Yana Kirichenko

New platform tracks disappearing Arctic lakes

Thermokarst lakes, created by thawing permafrost, form the characteristic patchwork of water and tundra seen across Arctic landscapes. (Image: Public Domain)How can an entire lake disappear? In the Arctic, lakes sometimes drain within hours. A new public platform lets anyone follow these remarkable

Culture

11/02/2026, Camille Laurent

Arctic adventures of a famous writer

A portrait of Arthur Conan Doyle, painted by Sidney Paget in 1897. (Image: Public Domain)Few people know that long before creating Sherlock Holmes and becoming Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous writer had an Arctic adventure of his own. The experience left a lasting impression.In 1880, Arthur Conan

10/30/2026, Polar Journal

Copenhagen prepares for an Arctic weekend

Nordatlantens Brygge, the festival’s main venue, stands on Copenhagen’s historic waterfront in the Christianshavn district. (Image: Manuel Cazzaniga / CC BY 2.0 /cropped)For one weekend, the Danish capital will become a meeting place for Arctic voices, ideas and traditions, uniting culture, science

10/23/2026, Polar Journal

A landmark win for Sámi literature

Sigbjørn Skåden, winner of the 2026 Nordic Council Literature Prize for Láŋtdievvá / Planterhaug. (Image: Knut Åserud / Cappelen Damm / press use)For only the second time in its history, the Nordic Council Literature Prize has gone to a Sámi-language work. What earned this year’s winner such recogni

10/16/2026, Polar Journal

26th Shackleton Autumn School Opens in Ireland

Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922), an Irish-born Antarctic explorer. (Image: Public Domain)The Irish town of Athy marks its connection to Ernest Shackleton with a festival of polar history, science, art and activities for all ages.From 16 to 18 October, Athy in County Kildare is hosting the 26th Sha

10/03/2026, Polar Journal AG Team

Kaffemik: Greenland’s unique social tradition

Coffee has an important place in social life in Greenland. (Image: Public Domain)Coffee-centered traditions take many forms around the world, but on the Arctic island of Greenland, gatherings around coffee have developed some distinctive features.Kaffemik is a characteristic Greenlandic social tradi

09/27/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Arctic Char – the “Bread of the Arctic”

The Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) is one of the most important food fish for the Inuit and is considered the quintessential traditional staple food in many regions of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska. Because of its central importance, it is often referred to as the “bread of the Arctic.”For the Inu

09/21/2026, Yana Kirichenko

What Makes a Good Life in the Arctic?

Tasiilaq on the east coast of Greenland. Researchers argue that life in the Arctic requires its own indicators of well-being. (Image: Christine Zenino / CC BY 2.0 / cropped)How do we know whether people are living well? When measuring life in the Arctic, researchers argue that standard measures may

09/12/2026, Polar Journal AG Team

Arctic climate change, archaeology and Trump

In January 2025, President Donald Trump signed “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential”, an executive order aimed at expanding and accelerating oil and gas development in Alaska. (Image: USGS / Public Domain)As climate change transforms Alaska, an academic calls for archaeology to beco

Economy

11/14/2026, Marcel Schütz

Norway’s spending on Svalbard rises to NOK 2.28 billion

The Northernmost Town in the World – Longyearbyen (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Norway spent around 20 percent more on Svalbard in 2025 than in the previous year, according to the latest figures from Statistics Norway. Government grants to Longyearbyen saw a particularly sharp increase.Total government expe

11/12/2026, Heiner Kubny

South Korea sets its sights on the icebreaker market

Artist’s impression of the new Swedish icebreaker, which is to be built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. The 126-metre-long vessel is due to be delivered in 2029 and will support shipping in the Baltic Sea in future. (Illustration: PolarJournal)South Korea aims to play a greater role i

11/10/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Fewer catches for more pollock

A pollock (Pollachius virens) at the Ozeaneum in Stralsund. This species is widespread in the waters off northern Norway and the Barents Sea and is of great economic importance. Due to declining spawning stocks, Norway is reducing the catch quota for north-east Arctic pollock by 22 per cent in 2027.

11/06/2026, Camille Laurent

Canada renews its icebreaker fleet: Contracts, construction progress and timelines

Polar icebreaker CCGS Arpatuuq: Davie is building this larger icebreaker together with Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, which belongs to the same corporate group. (Illustration: Davie)Canada’s icebreaker renewal is progressing on several fronts. A steel supply agreement announced on 3 November supports

11/05/2026, Heiner Kubny

Russia ships grain via Murmansk

A large bulk carrier at Murmansk’s commercial port. The Arctic port, which has so far focused primarily on coal, ores and metals, is preparing to export grain for the first time. From November 2026, the first shipments are to be loaded directly from railway wagons onto cargo ships.With Murmansk, Rus

10/28/2026, Heiner Kubny

Greenland’s prawn fishery under pressure

The Greenlandic prawn trawler Bingo III (GR 2-122) navigates waters dotted with icebergs and ice floes off Ilulissat on Greenland’s west coast. The prawn fishery is one of the country’s most important economic sectors, but has been under pressure for years. (Photo: Gordon Leggett / Wikimedia Commons

10/26/2026, Polar Journal

Norway and Russia agree on higher fishing quotas

An Atlantic cod, whose Northeast Arctic stock is one of the most economically important in the Barents Sea. (Image: Wilhelm Thomas Fiege / CC BY-SA 4.0 / cropped)The two countries hold their first in-person annual fisheries negotiations in seven years and reach an agreement on catch quotas for 2027.

10/18/2026, Heiner Kubny

South Korea’s Arctic test voyage highlights the limitations of the Northern Sea Route

The ‘PanStar Acro’ during its test voyage through the Arctic Ocean on 31 August 2026. Drift ice slowed the South Korean container ship on certain sections of the Northern Sea Route. (Photo: Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Republic of Korea)South Korea’s first container voyage via the Northern Sea

Tourism

11/13/2026, Marcel Schütz

Searching for the Northern Lights During the Polar Night on Svalbard

Northern Lights above Sarkofagen (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Around 1,000 kilometres north of Tromsø lies one of the northernmost permanently inhabited regions on Earth. While winter days grow shorter on the European mainland, the sun disappears completely below the horizon on Svalbard for several months.

11/07/2026, Einar Johansen

Longyearbyen prioritises quality over growth

View across Longyearbyen on the Adventfjord in Svalbard. The Arctic settlement aims to focus its economic future more strongly on stability, sustainable development and high-quality tourism offerings. (Photo: Marcel Schütz)Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen is realigning its economic future. Rather than fo

10/26/2026, Heiner Kubny

Greenland: Who will rescue hundreds of passengers?

The expedition cruise ship MS Fram, operated by HX Expeditions, amongst massive icebergs in Greenlandic waters. The remote cruising areas and challenging ice conditions place high demands on rescue services in the event of a potential shipping accident. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Greenland is attracting m

10/25/2026, Heiner Kubny

Expedition cruise lines are significantly expanding their Arctic offerings

PONANT’s Le Commandant Charcot in the Arctic pack ice off Greenland. A dinghy is navigating between the ice floes. The photograph was taken on 23 June 2024 during the multinational Operation Tugaalik. (Photo: Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora / U.S. Coast Guard)Greenland, Svalbard and the Canadian Arctic are bec

10/02/2026, Yana Kirichenko

Arctic tourists make thousands of contributions to science

MS Roald Amundsen, one of HX Expeditions’ ships specially constructed for voyages in polar waters, pictured in Antarctica in 2020. (Image: Wolfgang Fricke / CC BY 3.0 / cropped)A major expedition cruise operator has reported a record 26,491 citizen science contributions from its Arctic voyages durin

08/11/2026, Rosamaria Kubny

Visits to South Georgia will become more expensive from July 2026

Gold Harbour, South Georgia: A southern elephant seal rests on the beach, whilst visitors respectfully observe the extraordinary wildlife from a distance. With its huge king penguin colony and mighty glaciers, Gold Harbour is one of the most impressive nature and wildlife viewing areas in the South

08/06/2026, Heiner Kubny

Solar eclipses in the Solar System

Solar eclipses occur throughout the solar system. However, the way they manifest varies from planet to planet. The solar corona is only visible during a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely obscures the bright solar disc.A total solar eclipse is one of the most impressive natural phenomena

07/30/2026, Heiner Kubny

How much tourism can Antarctica sustain?

Whilst expedition ships carrying fewer than 500 passengers allow shore excursions, large cruise ships such as the Celebrity Equinox, carrying over 3,100 passengers, usually sail through Antarctica without allowing passengers to go ashore. (Photo: Celebrity Cruises)Tourism in Antarctica has been grow

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