Albatross over the Drake Passage en route to Antarctica: Photo by Lisa ScherkOn January 17, 2026, the BBNJ Agreement of the United Nations (Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction) entered into force. For the first time,
Northern Lights over Zurich – for Mike Jakob, it was a magical moment to witness the usually Arctic phenomenon in his own sky. Northern lights over Zurich’s local mountain “Uetliberg”Image: Mike JakobNorthern Lights Across Europe and North AmericaOn 19 January 2026, skies over large parts of Europe
Dumont-d’Urville Station – Image: Institut Polaire FrançaisAn international search and rescue operation is underway in Antarctica after a scientific diver went missing during an under-ice dive. The incident occurred on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, in the Adélie Land region.According to the French polar
High concentrations of released mercury can impair brain function and development, especially in children and adolescents. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Thawing Permafrost Releases Dangerous MercuryThe Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, with serious consequences for the environment and
The focus of the measurements is the Lützow-Holm Bay region in East Antarctica. (Photo: Yuichi Aoyama)The melting of the polar ice sheets is among the most frequently discussed consequences of climate change. Far less attention, however, is paid to what comes afterward: What happens once an ice shee
Francisco Fernandoy: “Hurricane-force gusts and massive snowdrifts made our work extremely difficult.” (Photo: Fernandoy/Bozkurt)The Antarctic Peninsula continues to be one of the regions of the Earth most strongly affected by global warming. Along its west coast, temperatures are rising significant
The structure is built from gas hydrates, which numerous animals use as habitat. The image shows an example from more than 3,600 meters depth. (Photo: REV OCEAN)Deep beneath the ocean surface, where hardly any light penetrates and water pressure is immense, a reef made of ice is growing. Off the wes
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. Adult animals reach a length of 14 to 17 meters and a weight of up to 40 tons. (Photo: Pexels, Ben Phillips)Whales are among the largest living beings that have ever lived on Earth. It is especially astonishing that some of th
The station is located on King George Island, on the eastern side of Maxwell Bay. It is staffed year-round by eight people, increasing to up to 60 during the summer months. (Photo: BCAA)With pride and deep respect, Uruguay’s Artigas Antarctic Research Station (BCAA) celebrated its 41st anniversary o
Colorfull houses in Longyearbyen – Image: Lisa ScherkIn the northern polar regions, the sun disappears below the horizon for weeks or even months during winter – a phenomenon known as the polar night. Everywhere north of the Arctic Circle, this prolonged darkness influences daily life, mood, and soc
The mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) is a species found in the Southern Ocean and the southernmost waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It occurs mainly near the Heard and McDonald Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, and islands in the South Atlantic such as South Georgia and Bouvet Island. (Foto: Ge
Dr Colin Southwell counts Adélie penguins for a long-term monitoring programme. (Photo: Louise Emmerson)What scientists do not see in Antarctica can be just as significant as what they observe. This is the conclusion of a new study led by Dr Colin Southwell of the Australian Antarctic Division. It s
The woolly mammoth is an extinct species from the elephant family. This type of mammoth evolved around 800,000 to 600,000 years ago in Siberia and inhabited the cold steppes of northern Eurasia and North America. (Image: Pixabay)What for decades was considered a sensational Ice Age discovery has now
Benthos in the eastern Weddell Sea. Benthos refers to the totality of all organisms living in the bottom zone of a body of water. (Photo: Alfred Wegener Institute / Tomas Lundalv)The German research icebreaker Polarstern has set out on an international research expedition to the Antarctic Weddell Se
Polar bear family, Churchill, Hudson Bay – © Bob SmithChurchill, CanadaIn the midst of the barren vastness of the tundra, scientists have witnessed a moment that made even seasoned polar bear researchers pause. Near the small town of Churchill in northeastern Manitoba, a mother polar bear was spotte
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered by decree on 15 December the construction of a non-permanent ice base at the North Pole. The planned Artur Chilingarov Ice Base is to be established on Arctic drifting sea ice near the North Pole and is intended to serve both scientific purposes and short-te
Polar Connect is planning a fiber-optic connection across the Arctic. (Image: Polar Connect)With Polar Connect, a groundbreaking initiative is emerging that aims to digitally link Europe and Asia via an entirely new route. A modern fiber-optic cable through the Arctic Ocean promises not only faster
The penguins at Boulders Beach live amid civilization and roam through residents’ gardens. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Cape Town: The population of the endangered African penguin continues to decline dramatically. Researchers are sounding the alarm. Along the South African coast, more and more animals are
The “Silver Mary” is scheduled to call at the Halley VI, Troll and Neumayer III stations over the next ten years. (Photo: BAS)Three leading polar programs – the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), and the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) – are launching a long-term log
Travelling through the far north of Greenland – Markus Bühler journeys with Inuit and their Greenland dogs across the Arctic.Opening on 14 December 2025 at 11 a.m. – at the North America Native Museum in Zurich, Switzerland.Swiss photographer Markus Bühler presents the exhibition “At the Edge of the
Megan Lenss – With the Research Vessel in Antarctica – Photo: Megan Lenss’ photo archiveA new study led by PhD candidate Megan Lenss from Norway’s iC3 Polar Research Hub places previously overlooked organisms at the center of scientific attention: microscopic algae growing beneath Antarctic sea ice—
The total solar eclipse in Adventdalen, Svalbard, on March 20, 2015. Totality in Longyearbyen lasts 2 minutes and 28 seconds. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)On August 12, 2026, the eyes of astronomers will turn to two regions that are usually far from major celestial events: Greenland and Iceland. A total sol
The bowhead whale lives only in Arctic waters. It has a layer of blubber up to 70 cm thick, which protects it from the icy cold. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)With a lifespan of more than 200 years, bowhead whales are the Methuselahs of the animal kingdom, no other mammal lives longer. For a long time, resea
On the morning of November 19, 2025, a special kind of magic lay over the Yokosuka Naval Base. The Japanese observation vessel Shirase was preparing to embark on its journey to Antarctica. More than 500 relatives and friends came to bid farewell. (Photo: JARE67 Miho Ikeda)On the morning of 19 Novemb
