Due to the influence of tides and mechanical breakdown, plastic in water is transformed into microplastics. These are tiny plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm (up to 5000 micrometers). (Photo: Unsplash)While the world powers compete for control of the Arctic, a new and unexpected con
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
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
The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard. View from Mine 7 overlooking Adventdalen, Svalbard (Photo: Léa Zinsli)The closure of Mine 7 on Svalbard marks the end of coal mining in Longyea
Yamal LNG facilities in Sabetta. (Photo: Novatek)The Arctic is gaining increasing international importance due to its vast natural resources, especially natural gas. Russia plays a central role in this context, particularly through its liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. However, since 2022, Weste
The Svalbard Treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access and peaceful use of the Arctic archipelago for all signatory nations. Signing of the Svalbard Treaty on 9 February 1920 by Fritz Wedel Jarlsberg, head of the Norwegian negotiating team(Photo: Photographer unknown/Governor of S
The icebreaker “50 Years of Victory” is now used not only for industrial purposes but also for exclusive trips to the North Pole and, despite its age, remains one of the most powerful vessels of its kind. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)Russia, once a global leader in icebreaker construction, is facing a poten
New data from the Arctic Council shows a significant rise in vessel traffic, with nearly double the distance sailed by vessels since 2013. Ship in Arctic waters (Photo: Léa Zinsli)A recent report showed that shipping activity in the Arctic is reaching unprecedented levels, driven by longer ice-free
Atlantic herring lay their sticky eggs on the seafloor or on marine plants. A female can produce between 20,000 and 100,000 eggs, which adhere to stones, sand, algae, or seagrass. (Photo: Pixabay)A significant rise in temperatures in the Barents Sea is endangering the spawning grounds and food suppl
Casey’s old rubbish tip. All rubbish tips at Australian research stations were abolished in 1985. (Photo: AAD / Gavin Johnstone)Can waste management practices in Antarctica provide a model of sustainability for extreme environments? Last week, we left off with the following question: Is the principl
Three of the new icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard are currently being built at Helsinki Shipyard in Finland. (Photo: Helsinki Shipyard)The American shipbuilder Davie Defense has received a contract from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the construction of five Arctic Security Cutters (AS
Old fuel drums near Beaver Lake. The lake was discovered in 1956 during an Australian expedition. In September 1957, Australian scientists set up a base camp here, using the lake as a landing strip for aeroplanes. (Photo: AAD / M. Woolridge)Can waste management practices in Antarctica provide a mode
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
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
Vostok Station is a Russian research station located inland in Princess Elisabeth Land, Antarctica. Founded in 1957, the station lies at the southern Pole of Cold, where the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was measured: −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F; 184.0 K). (Photo: AARI)More than 200 different pl
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,
Donald Trump – Playing with fire! What comes after Venezuela? (Photo: Unsplash)For now, the situation still appears calm. It is still considered unlikely that the United States will gain control over Greenland in the near future. A determined and so far unified stance by the Danish and Greenlandic g
In light of Nuuk’s growth as Greenland’s commercial and administrative center, as well as increasing tourism, there was a need for improved flight connections to the capital. The previously required transfer in Kangerlussuaq for most international flights has now been eliminated. (Photo: onemileatat
Atlantic cod is found in parts of the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. It is one of the most important food fish and is of great significance to the fishing industry. However, many stocks are now threatened by overfishing. (Photo: Wikipedia, August Limmman)After record-long and difficult negotia
The high-resolution satellite image from Google Earth clearly shows severe damage to the permafrost soil. (Image: Google Earth)With the “Vankor–Payakha–Sever Bay Pipeline,” Russia is pushing ahead with one of the largest energy projects in the High North. The roughly 770-kilometer-long pipeline is p
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has responded firmly to a new move by Donald Trump that has intensified diplomatic tensions surrounding Greenland.The trigger is the United States’ decision to appoint a special envoy for Greenland. In Copenhagen, this step is viewed as politically s
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
Thawing permafrost is causing major damage to residential buildings. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)The destruction of permafrost and increasing extreme weather events could cost the Russian economy billions of dollars. Most studies point to growing damage in Russia’s northern regions as a result of climate c
