A new study shows that nitrogen fixation occurs across Arctic waters, including under sea ice, contributing to marine productivity. Arctic sea ice (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The Arctic Ocean has long been seen as a nutrient-poor environment, where a lack of nitrogen limits the growth of microscopic algae th
In the Arctic, humans and sled dogs form a cooperative system that combines mobility, sensory awareness, and shared learning to adapt to extreme conditions. Sled dog in Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)For millennia, survival in the Arctic has depended on close cooperation between humans and dogs. Rather
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
Researchers gained rare insights into narwhals by joining an Inuit hunt, revealing new details about their behavior and biology. Narwhals in Arctic waters. (Photo: Kristin Laidre, NOAA)Narwhals are among the Arctic’s most distinctive and mysterious whales. Best known for their long spiral tusk, an e
The Jakobshavn Glacier near Ilulissat in West Greenland is one of the fastest glaciers in the world and a major source of icebergs. The region is among those experiencing particularly intense and rapid ice loss. (Photo: Rosamaria Kubny)New research findings show that the bed beneath the Greenland Ic
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
Changing moisture conditions in the Arctic may influence parasite exposure in Svalbard reindeer by affecting where infective larvae are found. Svalbard reindeer grazing on tundra vegetation (Photo: Léa Zinsli)New research suggests that changing moisture conditions in the Arctic could influence how p
Scientists in Svalbard have shown that seawater can reveal which animals live in the Arctic, offering a new way to track how climate change is reshaping polar ecosystems. Researchers during fieldwork in Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The Arctic is warming faster than the global average, and scientists
Warming temperatures in the Arctic may be releasing long-stored pollutants, with Svalbard reindeer showing rising levels of persistent chemicals. A Svalbard reindeer digging through snow to find food (Photo: Léa Zinsli)New research indicates that climate change may be altering how pollutants move th
Researchers have developed a genetically modified “woolly mouse.” According to Colossal Biosciences, it represents an important intermediate step toward the possible revival of the woolly mammoth.A genetically engineered mouse with strikingly dense, woolly fur is currently attracting attention in th
Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean is tightly managed, but new research shows that bycatch and local fishing pressure remain important concerns. Krill fishery and dependent wildlife in the Southern Ocean (Illustration: Léa Zinsli)Antarctic krill supports not only a unique marine ecosystem but also
A polar bear found dead on Svalbard has tested positive for H5N5 avian influenza, the first confirmed case of bird flu in a polar bear in Europe. H5N5 avian influenza virus was detected in brain tissue from the young polar bear found in northern Svalbard (Photo: Ingebjørg H. Nymo, Norwegian Veterina
Antarctic krill are small crustaceans that form the foundation of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Simplified Antarctic food web with arrows indicating energy flow from prey to predator (Illustration: Léa Zinsli)Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a small crustacean that plays a central role in the
Staff carefully check each sensor to ensure it withstands extreme temperatures and operates accurately. (Photo: NIPR)At the beginning of April 2026, a comprehensive inspection of all fire protection equipment was carried out at Japan’s Showa Station. The aim of these measures was to ensure the prope
A glowing meteor entering Earth’s atmosphere.An international team of researchers has discovered a impact crater beneath the ice of Antarctica using two GRACE satellites. It may be one of the largest meteorite craters on Earth. The structure, more than 450 kilometers wide, lies hidden beneath an ice
Microbial processes in warming polar regions may influence greenhouse gas emissions and climate beyond the Arctic and Antarctic. Glacier front in the Arctic (Photo: Léa Zinsli)As research continues to reveal how microbes live and function in the cryosphere, rising temperatures in the Arctic and Anta
Exceptionally warm temperatures and heavy rain disrupted research, tourism and winter activities across Svalbard during one of the Arctic archipelago’s warmest Aprils on record. Snowmobiles stand on wet, melting tundra in Longyearbyen on April 19th during an exceptionally warm spring on Svalbard (Ph
Cold-adapted microbes produce enzymes that function at low temperatures, offering potential applications in industry and biotechnology. From ice to application: cold-adapted microbes and their biotechnological potential (Sketch: Léa Zinsli)Building on recent insights into how microbes survive in the
Microbial life thrives across Arctic and Antarctic environments, using specialized adaptations to survive extreme cold, ice and limited resources. Commuting to sampling location in Arctic waters (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The Arctic and Antarctic are often seen as frozen deserts, where life struggles to sur
The Georg Forster Station, a research station of the former GDR in the Schirmacher Oasis (Queen Maud Land), was located in a rare ice-free region of Antarctica and therefore offered particularly favorable conditions for scientific research. (Photo: Alfred Wegener Institute)On April 21, 1976, the fut
The chinstrap penguin is widely distributed across Antarctica and occurs circum-polar. Its breeding areas are mainly located on the Antarctic Peninsula as well as on sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic, including the South Shetland Islands and the South Orkney Islands. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)T
As part of the 62nd Chilean Antarctic Expedition, a team from the Chilean Antarctic Institute visited several sites on the Antarctic Peninsula. The aim was to ensure that the automatic weather stations were in working order. Maintenance work under extreme conditions: operations between helicopter, b
As sea ice retreats, killer whales are moving into the High Arctic, disrupting fragile ecosystems. Killer whales off Alaska (Photo: Robert Pitman, NOAA)As Arctic sea ice continues to decline, a new top predator is transforming ecosystems in one of the planet’s most remote regions.Killer whales are a
