China launches 42nd Antarctic expedition

As part of this expedition, China plans to drill into deep lakes beneath the Antarctic ice sheet for the first time. Using hot water and melt drilling systems, boreholes will be drilled through more than 3,000 metres of ice.

1.2 million years of climate history extracted from Antarctic ice core

Ancient ice from Antarctica, obtained as part of the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project, contains unique climate records spanning at least the last 1.2 million years.

Swiss Seed Samples for the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard

Svalbard – On October 21, 2025, the Global Seed Vault on Svalbard was opened once again. More than 21,000 new samples from 20 international gene banks made their way into the frozen mountain above the airport of Longyearbyen.

Did Shackleton ignore the risk to his ship?

When polar explorer Ernest Shackleton wrote in his diary on 27 October 1915: ‘She was doomed, no man-made ship could have withstood the strain,’ his dreams of reaching Antarctica had already been shattered.

The Hektoria Glacier is breaking up at record speed

Glaciers around the world are losing mass due to climate change, and Antarctica is also affected. The process at the Hektor Glacier was tracked via satellite for the first time. This was reported by US scientists led by Naomi Ochwat from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Rosatom develops new floating power plants

Rosatom has begun developing a new floating nuclear power plant with a capacity of 180 megawatts. This was announced by the deputy director general of the corporation, Andrei Nikipelov. ‘We plan to build a whole series of floating power plants.

Through the Northeast Passage in record time

The Chinese container ship «Istanbul Bridge» has completed the route from China to the United Kingdom via the Arctic in just 20 days.

Svalbard – The Russian state-owned company Trust Arktikugol has once again requested permission to build a road to Coles Bay.

The Russian state-owned company Trust Arktikugol has expressed its interest in building a road connection between the settlement of Barentsburg and the long-abandoned ghost town of Colesbukta in a letter to the Norwegian authorities.

Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska is a reminder that the 49th state was once a Russian territory

On Aug. 15, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. It will reportedly be the first time a Russian leader has set foot in Alaska since Russia sold the territory to the U.S. 178 years ago.

Subglacial meltwater boosts Greenland’s summer plankton bloom

A comprehensive modeling study shows how subglacial meltwater triggers an additional summer bloom of phytoplankton in Disko Bay. At the same time, the climate-relevant carbon sequestration increases only slightly.

The polar bear, an emblematic subject of culture

Almost a fetish animal for scientists, a star attraction on Arctic cruises and a global climate icon, the polar bear goes far beyond its role as a symbolic species. From Inuit mythology to tales of exploration, from traditional sculpture to contemporary advertising, the polar bear has never ceased to change its face. Whether a monster, a spirit, an endearing companion or an ecological symbol, Nanooq tells as much about the history of the Arctic as it does about our imagination.

The Polar Retrospective - Subantarctic Visitor Changes, a 66-Year-Old Mystery Solved, and a Warning for Reindeer

Australia to detect HPAI-H5 on Heard Island

From September to December, a research team from Australian Antarctic Programs will be deployed on the sub-Antarctic island at 53 degrees south to assess the health of animal populations.

Dagger beaks and strong wings: new fossils rewrite the penguin story and affirm NZ as a cradle of their evolution

Revealing a surprising diversity of ancient species just after the mass extinction that ended the age of dinosaurs, new fossil discoveries from North Canterbury in New Zealand show how early penguins developed powerful underwater adaptations and long, spear-like beaks. The findings affirm New Zealand’s role as a cradle of penguin evolution.

Forgotten fault zone in the Yukon: Tintina fault could trigger a major earthquake

In Canada’s Yukon, the Tintina Fault has the potential for an earthquake exceeding magnitude 7.5. Dawson City lies dangerously close to the epicentre and could be severely affected by the shaking.

Launch of New South Georgia Entry Permit System Halted

The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands had planned to implement a new ETA system for visitors but had to delay these plans now.

The Polar Retrospective – A new map, a new vessel, and a new threat for Arctic foxes

The Polar Retrospective looks at recent stories from around the world’s polar regions. This week we take a look at a new map of Alexander Island, a new Canadian inuit-owned fishing vessel, and a new viral threat for Arctic foxes on Svalbard.

Our DNA analysis of 75,000-year-old bones in Arctic caves reveals how animals responded to changing climates

DNA analysis of 75,000-year-old bones in Norwegian Arctic caves reveals how ancient animal communities adapted to periods of warming and cooling, providing insights into how modern wildlife might react to current climate change.

Arctic lakes, when life stimulates methane

As global warming profoundly transforms Arctic ecosystems, a new study reveals that lakes at high latitudes may be releasing more methane than previously thought. This greenhouse gas, far more potent than CO₂, is produced in the sediments of lakes that have become more biologically productive. A worrying dynamic, revealing new climate feedback loops.

A Shifting High North Drives Europe to Rebuild Arctic Security

In response to the new geopolitical realities from Russia and China and a divergent USA, key European nations are fundamentally rebuilding their Arctic security through new strategic alliances, policies, and military investments.