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. (

11/09/2026 | Einar Johansen

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

11/08/2026 | 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

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

11/07/2026 | 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

11/06/2026 | Heiner Kubny

Giant iceberg A-81 reaches South Georgia

The giant iceberg A-81 south-west of South Georgia. The satellite image, taken on 20 October 2026, shows the iceberg at the edge of the shallow sub-oceanic continental shelf, where its drift has slowed. (Image: NASA Earth Observatory / Michala Garrison, MODIS data from the Terra satellite)After more

Science

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

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

The sleeping giant awakens – permafrost is exacerbating global warming

Thawing permafrost on the Arctic coast of Alaska. Beneath the thin layer of vegetation lie massive ice bodies in the frozen ground. As this ice thaws, the coastline loses its stability and large blocks can break away into the sea. (Photo: U.S. Geological Survey / USGS, Public Domain)Thawing Arctic p

Politics

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, Einar Johansen

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

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

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

11/02/2026, Einar Johansen

Drinking water crisis on Spitsbergen

View across Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen with the expansive Advent Valley in the background. To the right, above the settlement, lies Isdammen, an important source of drinking water for the town. Since September 2025, elevated metal concentrations have been affecting the population’s drinking water s

Society

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

10/05/2026, Polar Journal AG Team

Bringing Veterinary Care to Rural Alaska

Veterinary care remains sporadic in many remote communities across Alaska. (Image: Markus Trienke / CC BY-SA 2.0 / cropped)Many remote communities in Alaska have little or no regular access to a veterinarian. Recent initiatives are trying to bring veterinary care directly to them.For many people in

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

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

11/10/2026, 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

10/11/2026, Heiner Kubny

Severnaya Zvezda halts major coal project in the Arctic

Mining operations in the snow-covered open-cast mine at the Syradasayskoye coal deposit on the Taymyr Peninsula. This remote, large-scale Arctic project was intended to be developed into one of Russia’s most significant coking coal projects, but has now largely been put on hold. (Photo: Severnaya Zv

09/26/2026, Polar Journal AG Team

Canada Advances Decades-Old Northern Highway Project

The proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway would stretch around 800 kilometres. Pictured is another all-season road in the Mackenzie Delta, under construction in 2013. (Image: Adam Jones / CC BY-SA 2.0 / cropped)A highway envisioned nearly 70 years ago is moving forward again as Canada invests in a long-

Tourism

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

07/25/2026, Gastautor

From Mexico City to the Arctic: Chasing a Polar Ice Swimming Dream

Dreams often begin in the most unexpected places. Arleen González Pérez's dream started in Mexico City - a place where icy water simply does not exist. Yet that never stopped her from pursuing her passion for ice swimming. Team behind the world recordBy Arleen González PérezDreams often begin in the

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