For many in Greenland, climate change is not a distant concept but a daily reality, even if its causes are understood in different ways. Greenlandic village along the coast (Photo: Heiner Kubny)When climate change is discussed, attention often focuses on melting glaciers and rising temperatures. In
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
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was born on 11 June 1910 in Saint-André-de-Cubzac, near Bordeaux. Cousteau was a French pioneer, renowned worldwide for his marine research and for documenting it on film. In his films, his red woollen bobble hat was his trademark. Cousteau died on 25 June 1997 in Paris.Jacques
Decades after its abandonment, the Soviet mining settlement of Pyramiden remains suspended between Arctic wilderness, preserved history and the slow return of nature. An abandoned swing in Pyramiden (Photo: Léa Zinsli)Pyramiden is often described as a ghost town, but the former Soviet settlement on
Happy Days underway in Adventfjorden (Photo: Janic Spinas)Four Swiss adventurers will begin the Arctic Row 2026 expedition at midnight between 3 and 4 July 2026, departing from Svalbard. Their goal is to complete a historic human-powered row of more than 3,000 kilometres to the edge of the Arctic se
Arctic dietary pollution exposes men and women to different levels of contaminants, reflecting differences in diet and biology. Illustration of a coastal village in GreenlandThe Arctic is often portrayed as a remote and pristine region, yet it is increasingly shaped by pollution originating far beyo
As climate change reshapes Arctic ecosystems, the close ties between wildlife and food systems are increasing the risk of diseases passing from animals to people. Key zoonotic pathogens in the Arctic and their animal or environmental sourcesThe Arctic is often imagined as a remote wilderness of ice
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
A traditional dish from Greenland that captures the flavors of the North. Tender reindeer meat is combined with fresh berries and herbs to create a unique explosion of flavors. The hearty wildness of the meat is balanced by the sweet freshness of the berries, while the herbs add an earthy note. This
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
In 1963, Ingrid Pedersen crossed the North Pole in a small aircraft, becoming the first woman to do so on a flight from Alaska to Norway. Ingrid Pedersen visiting Ny-Ålesund in 1970 (Photo: Tor Killie, Norsk Polarinstitutt)In July 1963, Ingrid Pedersen became the first woman to fly over the North Po
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
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
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
Matambre a la Pizza is a delicious Argentine dish that combines the best elements of grilled meat and pizza. The tender, juicy beef is topped with a flavorful tomato sauce, melted cheese, and fresh herbs. Every bite delivers an explosion of flavors, achieved through the perfect balance of savory mea
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
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
Early thawing in Svalbard is creating unexpected logistical challenges for the return of ten-year-old Mina Floriana Read from the northern part of the archipelago. Mina and Alexander Read on ski expedition (Photo: Alexander Read)The expedition of ten-year-old Mina Floriana Read across Svalbard has s
The Stories we keep – The Knowledge we shareThe ‘Arctic Voices’ event series is a multidisciplinary cultural festival taking place in Bern (Switzerland) from 23 April to 14 May 2026, bringing Indigenous voices, perspectives and stories from Arctic regions to Bern and showcasing them through a variet
From 2027, guides outside Svalbard’s settlements must hold official approval under a new certification system. Information event held in Svalbard Svalbard is set to introduce a new, formal guide certification system in the Arctic, marking a shift in how tourism and field safety are regulated in remo
A ten-year-old skier is attempting to cross Svalbard, prioritizing shared experience and time in the Arctic over speed or records. Mina Floriana Read during the expedition across Svalbard (Photo: Alexander Read)A ten-year-old skier is currently attempting to cross Spitsbergen from south to north, co
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
