Everything polar one click away

With the construction of the new nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, Russia is continuing its ambitious Arctic strategy.

Antarctica: First dinosaur discovery confirmed

A bone discovered as far back as 1985 on the Antarctic Peninsula has now been officially identified as the first known dinosaur fossil ever found on the Antarctic continent.

Air bubbles tell the story of the climate

As part of the Australian ‘Million Year Ice Core’ (MYIC) project, scientists are studying air bubbles that have been trapped in Antarctic ice for thousands to millions of years.

Pyramiden, Frozen in Time

Decades after its abandonment, the Soviet mining settlement of Pyramiden remains suspended between Arctic wilderness, preserved history and the slow return of nature.

Advances in Antarctic Research

Antarctica is one of the most extreme habitats on Earth. Temperatures close to the freezing point pose major challenges for organisms, as many biological processes slow down in the cold.

Picture of the month

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Guest article

MSC Reaffirms Its Decision to Avoid the Northern Sea Route

Guest Author

The shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has once again reiterated a stance it formulated years ago: the Northern Sea Route will continue to remain off-limits for the world’s largest container carrier. This is a clear signal in favor of environmental protection and safety.

Around the polar world

Updated TopoSvalbard Improves Svalbard Mapping

The Norwegian Polar institute has recently updated its satellite imagery of certain areas of Svalbard with photos taken in 2024. The updated areas include Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, Vindodden and Sveagruva. The previous orbital photographs (2008–2012) were added as a new map layer. This allows the user to easily compare changes in the landscape between the time of the first aerial photographs (1936-1938) and today and is especially interesting for the region around Sveagruva, which was closed in 2016 and subsequently returned to its natural state until 2023.

npolar.no

Mina and Alexander Read Complete the Length of Svalbard – After 600 Kilometres and 44 Days in the Arctic

Ten-year-old Mina Floriana Read and her father, Alexander Read, have completed the 600-kilometre expedition Svalbard South to North after 44 days in the Arctic. The expedition combines polar history, family bonds, climate awareness, and scientific research in some of the world’s most demanding natural environments.

kommunikasjon.ntb.no

Warships begin missile drills in Barents Sea

Several of the Russian Navy’s most powerful warships are reported to have departed from the naval base in Severomorsk towards a sealed-off exercise area north of the Kola Bay.

www.thebarentsobserver.com

New mayor of Pechenga urged to prioritize the military in the border region

Aleksei Penshin has been officially appointed as the new mayor of Pechenga, a municipality bordering Norway and Finland. The 40-year-old politician, previously head of the Northern Fleet town of Zaozersk, was inaugurated on March 11, 2026.

www.thebarentsobserver.com

Tanker attacked in Mediterranean was carrying sanctioned Arctic gas

Only days after the Arctic Metagaz loaded liquefied natural gas in the Ura Bay, Kola Peninsula, the carrier was hit by a drone outside Malta.

www.thebarentsobserver.com

The Norwegian Coast Guard Grants Shelter to Melkart 3 and 4 in Isfjorden

The Norwegian Coast Guard has approved a request for shelter from bad weather in Isfjorden for Melkart 3 and 4 and has granted the vessels permission to seek refuge there following fishing activity along the coast of Svalbard.

www.svalbardposten.no

Politics

Hauke Trinks and the Idea That Life Began in Ice

German physicist Hauke Trinks combined unconventional origin-of-life research with years of Arctic overwintering expeditions alongside Marie Tièche.

Collins Bay: New protected area in Antarctica

At their meeting in Japan in May, the signatory states to the Antarctic Treaty unanimously supported the Ukrainian initiative to establish a new protected area in Antarctica.

NASA to study the 2026 solar eclipse in Iceland

Around 40 NASA scientists will travel to the island for the total solar eclipse on 12 August to carry out an extensive research mission.

H5 bird flu is decimating wildlife on Heard Island

Scientists from the Australian Antarctic Programme have published new findings on the spread of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza on the remote Heard and McDonald Islands.

Science

Mapping Baleen Whale Habitats in Antarctica

A new study maps where baleen whales feed across the Southern Ocean and shows how proposed marine protected areas could better align with critical Antarctic habitats.

Snow Cruiser – The Biggest Flop in Antarctic Research

The ‘Snow Cruiser’ was a huge vehicle designed for Antarctic expeditions. It served both as a means of transport and as a mobile research station, with living and working quarters for the crew.

Arctic Row 2026: Swiss Expedition Plans Historic Row Across the Arctic

Polar Journal AG Team

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 sea ice and then continue all the way to mainland Scotland.

How Early Explorers Survived the Cold

Polar Journal AG Team

Survival in the polar regions depended on practical skills, careful planning, and the ability to adapt to extreme cold.

Society

PORT LAWNA: The Failure of a Billion-Dollar Project

New facilities at the Lawna coal transshipment complex in Murmansk have been commissioned as part of the latest expansion phase of the coal terminal.

Rothera Station Ready for the Future

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has reached a major milestone in the modernization of the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula.

Milestone for floating nuclear power plants

The Russian state-owned corporation Rosatom has made significant progress in its program for floating nuclear power plants.

Unequal pollutant exposure in men and women in the Arctic

Arctic dietary pollution exposes men and women to different levels of contaminants, reflecting differences in diet and biology.

Picture of the month

Southern Elephant Seal Pups

I had been watching these two young southern elephant seals for quite some time as they rested along the shoreline of South Georgia. The pups seemed completely at ease, enjoying a rare moment of calm between naps, play, and the constant demands of growing up in one of the world’s most remote environments.

One pup rolled onto its back in pure relaxation, while the other suddenly opened its mouth in what looked like a dramatic yawn, or perhaps a loud protest about something only a seal could understand.

Marcel Schütz

Economy

Dumont d’Urville – Expedition to Antarctica

In 1837, Dumont d’Urville was asked by King Louis-Philippe I to explore the South Pole.

“Forever Chemicals” Increase by More Than 900 Percent in Svalbard Reindeer

Lisa Scherk

For many visitors to Svalbard, the reindeer is among the first Arctic animals they encounter. Often seen grazing near Longyearbyen or moving slowly across the tundra beneath glaciers, these compact animals appear perfectly adapted to life in one of the world’s most remote environments.

Arctic Wildlife and Human Health in a Changing Environment

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.

Arctic Winters Are Getting Warmer

The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth.

Tourism

Midwinter 2026: Greetings from the eternal ice

21 June is a special day for participants in Antarctic expeditions from all over the world: it is Midwinter, the traditional celebration of the longest night and the shortest day of the year in Antarctica.

Antarctica is becoming greener—and more susceptible to plant diseases

Climate change could nearly double the number of plant-damaging fungi in Antarctica by the end of this century.

Antarctic Microbes Under Extreme UV

Antarctic microbes survive extreme UV exposure using a range of natural defense strategies, offering insights for future biotechnological innovations.

Qaqortoq Airport has opened

With the official opening of the new airport in Qaqortoq on April 16, 2026, South Greenland entered a new phase of economic and tourism development.

Expeditions

Can Arctic sea ice be artificially thickened?

Lisa Scherk

In the middle of the Arctic winter, employees of the company Real Ice pump seawater onto the surface of sea ice. At temperatures well below minus 20 degrees Celsius, the water freezes rapidly and forms an additional ice layer.

Bowhead Whales Borrow Songs from Other Arctic Species

New research shows that bowhead whales in the Arctic can imitate and incorporate sounds from other species into their songs.

New Study: Polar Bears under Pressure

An international team of researchers has published a new report in the journal Ecological Monographs on the effects of climate change on the genetics and evolution of polar bears.

Tourism: Murmansk Reconnects with Svalbard