Scientists located sunken vessels containing radioactive waste during an expedition with the research ship Akademik Ioffe in the Barents and Kara Seas. During the 70th expedition of the Akademik Ioffe, the precise locations of two wrecks containing radioactive waste in the Kara and Barents Seas were
The Svalbard rock ptarmigan is a master of camouflage in the Arctic, adapting its plumage to blend seamlessly with the snowy landscapes. This resilient bird faces challenges from predation, climate change, and competition for resources, making it a fascinating subject for wildlife enthusiasts. Male
Glaciologist Dr. Heïdi Sevestre and explorer Matthieu Tordeur crossed Antarctica by kite-ski, covering nearly 4,000 kilometres while collecting geophysical data with ground-penetrating radars. Their expedition, Under Antarctica, was the first radar transect ever completed by kite-ski, demonstrating
A young walrus seeks shelter amid the massive bodies of older animals. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth. What appears in scientific diagrams as a simple temperature curve represents a profound upheaval for the animals of the North. The fate of the Paci
Richard Evelyn Byrd was an American polar explorer and rear admiral. During his first Antarctic expedition, on November 28/29, 1929, he achieved the first flight over and around the South Pole in a “Ford AT-5 Trimotor.”In the autumn of 1928, Byrd left the United States aboard the City of New York an
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Ukrainian Antarctic station Akademik Vernadsky, Ukrposhta issued a special stamp on 6 February 2026. A total of 15,000 first day covers were produced to mark the 30th anniversary of the Vernadsky Antarctic Station, honoring three decades of scientific research in
Arctic premiere of Trade Secret in LongyearbyenLast Friday, on International Polar Bear Day, Trade Secret had its Arctic premiere in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Two screenings drew over 400 viewers, almost 20 % of the town’s adult population, underscoring how closely the community is connected to the fa
Reindeer (caribou). The reindeer is a mammal from the deer family that is perfectly adapted to cold climates. It lives circumpolarly. In summer it roams the tundra; in winter it moves through the taiga of northern Eurasia and North America, as well as Greenland and other Arctic islands. In North Ame
In the Arctic zone of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Gazprom Neft has discovered one of the most significant oil fields of the past 30 years. Specialists studied the areas for three years using 2D and 3D seismic surveys before the new oil field was discovered. (Photo: Unsplash)In the Arctic zon
Svalbard Global Seed Vault in FebruaryThe Svalbard Global Seed Vault carried out its first deposit of the year on 25 February 2025.For the first time, seed samples from two new countries, Guatemala and Niger, were deposited. In addition, the Vault received its first-ever deposit of olive seeds. In t
The Sirius Patrol has 100 sled dogs, mostly from its own breeding program. Since 1994, the Greenland Sled Dog Patrol has been administratively subordinate to the Naval High Command (SOK) of the Royal Danish Navy in Aarhus and operationally to the Arctic Command in Nuuk, West Greenland. (Photo: Rosam
A sense of security in the ice: a polar bear mother with her cubs on the pack ice of Svalbard. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)The five countries in which polar bears are native have agreed on a new international action plan to protect the species. Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway, and Denmark (Greenl
Georgia Grant, Jim Marschalek and Huw Horgan discuss the drill core (Photo: Ana Tovey, SWAIS2C)An international team of researchers has recovered the longest sediment core ever drilled beneath an ice sheet, a scientific breakthrough for climate research. The 228-meter-long sample of mud and rock was
Arrival at New Zealand’s Scott Base in AntarcticaAntarctica often appears on maps as an empty white space. Yet for the people who work there, it is anything but an abstract region. A scientific study shows how strongly the field season shapes the image of the continent and how ice, light and researc
Klippfisk, also known as bacalhau, is a traditional dish from Norway made from dried and salted cod. This dish stands out for its intense flavors and the perfect balance between salty and savory. The combination of tender fish, potatoes, and aromatic herbs makes it a true delight for the senses.Prep
A sleeper shark swims directly into the spotlight of a video camera in Antarctica in January 2025. (Photo: Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Center)A spectacular discovery is causing a stir in marine research: for the first time, a large sleeper shark has been filmed in the icy deep sea of Antarctica.
New research findings from Adventfjorden near Longyearbyen in Svalbard indicate measurable changes in seafloor sediments. Longyearbyen and the Adventfjord Delta (Photo: Lisa Scherk)The Arctic is among the least populated regions on Earth, and many of its ecosystems are still considered relatively li
View from Isbjørne Island in clear weather toward key early Paleo-Inuit settlement sites. (Photo: Team Matthew Walls)The earliest inhabitants of Greenland already possessed advanced maritime skills. Archaeological finds on the Kitsissut Islands in the far north of Greenland show that Paleo-Inuit und
Blood Falls were discovered in 1911 by the Australian geologist Griffith Taylor, a participant in the Terra Nova Expedition. He was the first to explore the valley that now bears his name. At the time, he attributed the red color to red algae. It was later proven, however, that the coloration is cau
The search for the fifth recipient of the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions has begun. The award is presented each year on the birthday of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and aims to highlight the global importance of these sensitive regions. As the Arctic increasingly moves
Ringed seal on the sea ice (Photo: Marcel Schütz)In the Arctic Ocean, survival is determined not only by ice cover, but also by light. A recent study from Greenland shows that ringed seals appear to closely link their diving behaviour to daylight cycles and the movements of their prey. Once again, t
Ice Alaska 2025 (Photo: Alan Silva)The winter silence in George Horner Ice Park in Fairbanks has come to an end. For several days now, there has been bustling activity. Vehicles transport blocks of ice, and warmly dressed women and men cut and shape the ice blocks late into the night. The residents
The main research areas of Mirny Station include glaciology, seismology, meteorology, observation of auroras, cosmic radiation, and marine biology. (Photo: AARI / Dmitriy Rezov)On February 13, 1956, the flag of the USSR was raised at the first Soviet Antarctic station, Mirny. This historic date mark
The unauthorized landing of 19-year-old pilot Ethan Guo on King George Island has sparked criticism and legal consequences in Antarctica. Ethan Guo vor seiner Cessna 182Q (N182WT) Bild: Instagram: ethanguo.rtwWhen Ethan Guo landed on King George Island in June 2025, his flight was meant to send a po
