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
AAvV-18 provides new evidence of the independent evolution of the viral world of Antarctic penguins. (Photo: INACH)Antarctica was long considered to be virtually free of pathogens. Today, however, a completely different picture is emerging: The White Continent is home to a surprisingly wide variety
Scurvy was a serious threat to polar expeditions, caused by a lack of vitamin C. Scurvy could develop gradually and weaken explorers over timeScurvy was one of the most serious and misunderstood threats faced by early polar explorers. It is caused by a lack of vitamin C, a nutrient essential for mai
From 20 to 23 August 2026, Hobart will be celebrating its unique connection to Antarctica – with science, history and activities for the whole family. Hobart’s waterfront. (Foto: AAF)The Australian Antarctic Festival will return to Hobart’s waterfront from 20–23 August 2026, celebrating Australia’s
Oceanographer Natalia Dikul with an Argobuoy that records temperature, salinity and other oceanographic data at depths of up to 1,500 metres. (Photo: Yuriy Shepeta, NASC)Using six autonomous Argobuoys, Ukrainian scientists have carried out the first-ever year-round oceanographic study in the Bransfi
Glaciers are constantly moving, and when large pieces of ice break off into the sea, they form icebergs in a process known as calving. Glacier front where icebergs can break off (Photo: Léa Zinsli)Glaciers may look solid and unchanging, but they are constantly moving. One of the most dramatic signs
Titanosaurs were giant herbivorous sauropods of the Cretaceous period and were widespread across the southern continents.A bone discovered as far back as 1985 on the Antarctic Peninsula has now been officially identified as the first known dinosaur fossil ever found on the Antarctic continent. The v
Dr Daniel Baggenstos monitors a sublimation process in which greenhouse gases trapped in bubbles are extracted from a 50 g ice sample without the ice melting. (Photo: Mark Horstman)As part of the Australian ‘Million Year Ice Core’ (MYIC) project, scientists are studying air bubbles that have been tr
Possesses almost colorless blood because it lacks hemoglobin (the red blood pigment) – a unique adaptation to the cold Antarctic waters. (Photo: WikiCommons)Antarctica is one of the most extreme habitats on Earth. Temperatures close to the freezing point pose major challenges for organisms, as many
The skua, also known as the predatory gull, is a skilled hunter and scavenger. With its strength, intelligence and adaptability, it is one of Antarctica’s most significant seabirds. (Photo: NASC)At their meeting in Japan in May, the signatory states to the Antarctic Treaty unanimously supported the
Research findings document a very high mortality rate among southern elephant seals and highlight the challenges facing conservation efforts. (Photo: Julie McInnes)Scientists from the Australian Antarctic Programme have published new findings on the spread of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza o
A new study maps where baleen whales feed across the Southern Ocean and shows how proposed marine protected areas could better align with critical Antarctic habitats. Illustration of baleen whales in the Southern OceanIn the waters surrounding Antarctica, some of the largest animals on Earth are gat
The ‘Snow Cruiser’ was a huge vehicle designed for Antarctic expeditions. It served both as a means of transport and as a mobile research station, with living and working quarters for the crew. The “Snow Cruiser” was designed as an all-terrain vehicle for ice and snow. An aircraft was mounted on its
Survival in the polar regions depended on practical skills, careful planning, and the ability to adapt to extreme cold. Early polar expeditions required practical skills to travel across snow and ice and withstand extreme coldEarly polar explorers faced extreme cold without the advanced technology w
The Rothera Research Station is the United Kingdom’s most important research station in Antarctica. Scientists there primarily study how the climate, ice, oceans, and living organisms in Antarctica are changing. (Photo: BAS)The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has reached a major milestone in the mode
Dumont d’Urville, born on May 23, 1790, was a French navigator and polar explorer. At the age of 17, he chose to pursue a higher officer career in the navy. He was a talented botanist and spoke seven languages fluently. Dumont died on May 8, 1842, in Meudon.In 1837, Dumont d’Urville was asked by Kin
Midwinter at the Ukrainian Vernadsky Research Station in Antarctica – the low-hanging sun bathes the icy landscape in a unique light and highlights the rugged beauty of the polar winter.21 June is a special day for participants in Antarctic expeditions from all over the world: it is Midwinter, the t
Plant life on Lagotellerie Island. (Photo: Elise Biersma)Climate change could nearly double the number of plant-damaging fungi in Antarctica by the end of this century. This is the conclusion of a new study published in the scientific journal Global Change Biology. The researchers warn that this pos
Antarctic microbes survive extreme UV exposure using a range of natural defense strategies, offering insights for future biotechnological innovations. The ozone layer filters UV radiation before it reaches the Earth’s surface (Illustration: Léa Zinsli)Antarctica is one of the most extreme environmen
This is what the new Indian research vessel is expected to look like in the future — modern technology and innovative equipment are set to establish new standards for maritime research. (Photo: NCPOR)On April 8, 2026, a major milestone was reached in the construction of a new Indian ocean research v
Antarctic Circumpolar Current in its early stages (Photo: AWI / Hanna Knahl, Patrick Scholz)The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current on Earth, transporting more than a hundred times the total volume of water carried by all rivers combined. It circles Antarctica uninterrupted
The St. Kliment Ohridski Station is a central pillar of Bulgaria’s Antarctic strategy: it strengthens the country’s international research presence while also serving as a training site for young scientists in the natural and geosciences. (Photo: BAI)Bulgaria began its Antarctic activities as early
This was their final look toward the bright horizon as they bid farewell to their faithful companion in the sky with the words: “Until we meet again, Sun.” (Photo: Tomohiro Yahagi, JARE67)A special moment marked the beginning of a long and challenging period at Japan’s Showa Station in Antarctica in
An unusual career path: Samuel Silva went from chef to English teacher, returned to the kitchen, and eventually found his way to Antarctica. (Photo: INACH)Icy winds, endless expanses of snow, and temperatures far below freezing, Antarctica is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. Yet in the
