Everything polar one click away

Using artificial intelligence, researchers have, for the first time, systematically mapped tens of thousands of grounded icebergs along the Antarctic coast. Even small icebergs could play an important role in sea ice and ice shelves.

Kerguelen gentoo penguins are a distinct species

A species of penguin previously unrecognised by science as a distinct species lives on the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean.

Iceland’s whaling industry is on the brink of closure

Iceland is on the cusp of a historic turning point in whaling. The government intends to permanently ban commercial whaling and will table a corresponding bill in parliament in February 2027.

New insights into the volcanoes beneath Bransfield Strait

Several active volcanic systems lie beneath the seabed of Bransfield Strait. A new study now uses geochemical signatures to reveal the origin of their magma and the processes taking place deep beneath the seabed.

Information superhighway beneath the ice: Oden loses its way

In the middle of the Arctic Ocean, the Swedish research icebreaker Oden has surveyed the seabed for an unusual infrastructure project.

Bringing Veterinary Care to Rural Alaska

Many remote communities in Alaska have little or no regular access to a veterinarian. Recent initiatives are trying to bring veterinary care directly to them.

Picture of the month

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Guest article

How can you tell if a polar bear is pregnant?

Guest Author

It is not for lack of trying. But to this day scientists know of no reliable way to tell if a polar bear is pregnant.

Around the polar world

Jens Olav Vestgøte Sæther appointed new Governor of Svalbard

The Norwegian government has appointed Jens Olav Vestgøte Sæther (58) as the new Governor of Svalbard. He joins from his position as Chief Public Prosecutor at the Oslo Public Prosecutor’s Office.

www.sysselmesteren.no

EU to keep ban on Arctic oil and gas drilling despite Norwegian pressure

The European Commission will maintain its ban on new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, ahead of the 20 October announcement of its revamped Northern Neighbourhood strategy.

www.euronews.com

Reuters: Norway and NATO thwart Russian drills targeting undersea cables with a secret weapon

According to Reuters, Russia practised using a secret weapon against undersea cables. Norway and NATO reportedly hampered these exercises.

www.reuters.com

Norway seizes Professor Molchanov

The Governor of Svalbard confirms that the Professor Molchanov, the Russian passenger vessel operating a second season of voyages between Murmansk and the Russian settlement on the Norwegian Arctic archipelago, has been seized at port in Barentsburg.

www.aftenposten.no

U.S. Antarctic supply flight turns back after Russian aerospace warning

A U.S. Air Force C-17 supply flight to McMurdo Station returned to Christchurch, New Zealand, on 18 August following a Russian notification concerning planned aerospace activity over the Southern Ocean. The notification identified an area where the activity could pose a potential hazard to aircraft. The flight was operating under Operation Deep Freeze, which provides airlift support for the U.S. Antarctic Program, and had been bound for Phoenix Airfield on the McMurdo Ice Shelf.

www.space.com

Mummified Polar Bear Found in Svalbard

A naturally mummified polar bear has been discovered in Ymerbukta, Svalbard. The exceptionally well-preserved carcass was found by a kayaking group. Thanks to the Arctic climate and permafrost, much of the skin remain intact, making it a rare example of natural preservation. One day after the discovery, the Sysselmesteren of Svalbard collected samples from the carcass for further examination.

www.svalbardposten.no

Politics

What Makes a Good Life in the Arctic?

Yana Kirichenko

How do we know whether people are living well? When measuring life in the Arctic, researchers argue that standard measures may miss some of the things that matter most.

China and Russia are planning a new container fleet for the Arctic

China and Russia are pressing ahead with their plans for regular container shipping via the Northern Sea Route.

Professor Molchanov: Legal dispute over Russian ship in Svalbard

Marcel Schütz

The Norwegian authorities detained the Russian Professor Molchanov in Barentsburg on 2 September under a court order. The measure stems from a compensation claim by Ukrainian energy group Naftogaz against Russia.

Suspicious manoeuvres over Svalbard’s undersea cables

Several Russian fishing vessels have repeatedly crossed the routes of the undersea cables between the Norwegian mainland and Svalbard in recent days.

Science

William Baffin – The Explorer

Christian Hug

The Golden Age of Antarctic exploration (1897–1922) produced a host of heroes, whom we regularly feature in this section.

Kaffemik: Greenland’s unique social tradition

Coffee-centered traditions take many forms around the world, but on the Arctic island of Greenland, gatherings around coffee have developed some distinctive features.

Arctic tourists make thousands of contributions to science

Yana Kirichenko

A major expedition cruise operator has reported a record 26,491 citizen science contributions from its Arctic voyages during its 130th anniversary year.

First Weddell seal pup of the season at Vernadsky

The Antarctic spring is heralded by new arrivals at the Ukrainian research station Akademik Vernadsky.

Society

Arctic Char – the “Bread of the Arctic”

The Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) is one of the most important food fish for the Inuit and is considered the quintessential traditional staple food in many regions of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska.

Canada Advances Decades-Old Northern Highway Project

A highway envisioned nearly 70 years ago is moving forward again as Canada invests in a long-planned road through the Northwest Territories.

Arctic climate change, archaeology and Trump

As climate change transforms Alaska, an academic calls for archaeology to become a “political ally” to Indigenous communities amid debate over US energy policy.

Longyearbyen Literature Festival marks 10 years

The world’s northernmost literature festival has begun in Svalbard, bringing six days of literature, film and music to Longyearbyen for its tenth anniversary.

Picture of the month

Arctic Fox in the Soft Light

An Arctic fox sits among the tundra grasses, gazing into the distance.
Soft light falls on its fur, while delicate shades of gold and rose surround it, lending a quiet warmth to the Arctic landscape. With ears raised and a watchful gaze, it seems to pause for a moment between stillness and movement. The photograph captures a quiet encounter with Svalbard’s wildlife. It is a fleeting moment of closeness, while the fox remains absorbed in its own world.

Marcel Schütz

Economy

Churchill could become a year-round Arctic port

The Canadian port of Churchill on Hudson Bay could in future be called at by merchant ships all year round.

Tara Polar Station meets Xue Long 2 in the Arctic pack ice

An extraordinary encounter took place in the middle of the Arctic Ocean: the Tara Polar Station met up with the Chinese research icebreaker Xue Long 2.

Krill fishery reaches catch limit months ahead of schedule

The krill fishery in Antarctica has once again been brought to a premature close in 2026. The 620,000-tonne threshold had already been reached in the South Atlantic fishing grounds by 12 August.

New Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker delayed

Russia’s expansion of its nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet is being delayed. The ‘Chukotka’, the next icebreaker in the Project 22220 class, is not due to enter service at the end of 2026 as planned, but not until 2027.

Tourism

Visits to South Georgia will become more expensive from July 2026

Anyone wishing to visit South Georgia will have to dig deeper into their pockets in future. The government of the British Overseas Territory has decided on a gradual increase in visitor permit fees.

Solar eclipses in the Solar System

Solar eclipses occur throughout the solar system. However, the way they manifest varies from planet to planet.

How much tourism can Antarctica sustain?

Tourism in Antarctica has been growing steadily for years, and with it the debate over its impact on one of the Earth’s most sensitive natural landscapes.

From Mexico City to the Arctic: Chasing a Polar Ice Swimming Dream

Guest Author

Dreams often begin in the most unexpected places. Arleen González Pérez's dream started in Mexico City - a place where icy water simply does not exist. Yet that never stopped her from pursuing her passion for ice swimming.

Expeditions

Antarctic meteorite reveals the birth of the Sun

A meteorite found in Antarctica preserves traces of a magnetic field from the early days of our solar system.

Russia Counts Its Polar Bears

Researchers are counting polar bears in important denning areas of the Russian Arctic, with some preliminary observations pointing to potentially record numbers.

Australia plans four major Antarctic research campaigns

Australia intends to significantly expand its research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the coming years. Four major campaigns are set to investigate ice, sea ice, krill and marine ecosystems.

New project investigates the Southern Ocean