Emperor penguins with a chick on Antarctic sea ice. New satellite observations show that emperor penguin colonies by no means remain in the same place throughout the entire breeding season. They can split up and, depending on ice conditions and the time of year, sometimes move to significantly diffe
Satellite view of the Totten Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. The rugged ice surface meets sea ice and open water, which appear black in the satellite image. The Totten Glacier is one of the most significant outflow areas of the East Antarctic ice sheet and is highly sensitive to changes in the ocean a
In early March, an iceberg blocked the northern jetty used to supply Neumayer Station III in Atka Bay, Antarctica. Just as the wind had carried the iceberg to the edge of the ice shelf, it blew it away again after a few days. (Photo: Alfred Wegener Institute / Peter Jonczyk)The Southern Ocean and An
An emperor penguin chick seeks shelter between its parent’s feet. The thick down keeps the chicks warm, but in the first few weeks of life they still rely on their parents for protection and warmth. (Photo: AAD, Jordan Smith)At the Auster Rookery in East Antarctica, a new chapter in life is beginnin
The Chilean research and logistics settlement centred around the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Base on King George Island. The island is considered a possible terminus for a future fibre-optic link between South America and Antarctica. (Photo: Mefisto29 / Wikimedia Commons)Antarctica could, for t
The Gamburtsev Mountains lie entirely beneath the massive East Antarctic ice sheet. Geophysical measurements offer a glimpse of the rugged mountain landscape that has been hidden beneath the ice for millions of years. (Graphic: Zina Deretsky/NSF)Why did Antarctica become covered in ice as early as a
A large colony of emperor penguins gathers on the ice in front of the mighty Dawson Lambton Glacier in Antarctica. Numerous chicks in their grey downy plumage stand amongst the adult birds. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Emperor penguins are more dependent on fixed breeding sites than many other seabirds. How
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a keystone species in the Southern Ocean’s food web. These small crustaceans are an important food source for whales, penguins, seals and fish. (Photo: Uwe Kils / Wikimedia Commons)The krill fishery in Antarctica has once again been brought to a premature close
The Bharati research station in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica is India’s most modern Antarctic base. Since 2012, it has served as a base for international research projects on climate, geology, glaciology and oceanography. (Photo: NCPOR)India aims to raise public awareness of its polar and
A comparison of fossilised and modern penguin bones. The fossils from Seymour Island were analysed using micro-X-ray fluorescence to reveal chemical traces of past environmental and climatic conditions in Antarctica. (Photo: Boyang Xia et al. / Fossil Record)Millions of years old penguin bones from
The photograph shows Jill Mikucki and Peter Doran taking samples at Blood Falls in January 2023. (Photo: Bryan Minnear)Beneath the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica lies what appears to be a biological legacy from a time when seawater extended far into what are now the McMurdo Dry Valleys. At the famous
With every gulp, fin whales take in huge quantities of krill and seawater. New research shows that their baleen should actually become clogged in the process. When filtering its food, the fin whale forces the seawater it has taken in through its baleen. New research shows how the elastic baleen prev
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
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
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
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
Ready for action: The Chilean Antarctic Institute’s (INACH) autonomous underwater glider is being prepared on board a research vessel for its mission in the Strait of Magellan. The test voyage is an important milestone on the way to the first deployment of such a vehicle in Fildes Bay on King George
Rendering of the planned new buildings at Davis Station: the elevated, red-clad modules are intended to modernise Australia’s research base whilst also providing better protection against snow build-up and the extreme Antarctic conditions. (Image: Australian Antarctic Division)Australia has taken a
Map of ice velocity (magnitude in m/day) on the Antarctic Peninsula, derived from Sentinel-1 SAR data. (Graphic: Austrian Polar Research Institute)The Austrian remote sensing company ENVEO IT has become a new scientific member of the Austrian Polar Research Institute (APRI). This move is intended to
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
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
The Franco-Italian Concordia research station on the Antarctic Dome C plateau lies beneath spectacular aurora borealis on a starry polar night. It was here, on 18 July 2026, that a temperature of –84.1 °C was recorded – the lowest air temperature measured at a weather station anywhere in the world s
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
