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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

After an interruption of almost three decades, direct passenger voyages between the Russian port city of Murmansk and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard have resumed.

New Polar Research Vessel for India

On April 8, 2026, a major milestone was reached in the construction of a new Indian ocean research vessel at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) shipyard in Kolkata.

Arctic nitrogen cycle more active than assumed

A new study shows that nitrogen fixation occurs across Arctic waters, including under sea ice, contributing to marine productivity.

Greenlandic cuisine - Kalaallit Nunaat

A traditional dish from Greenland that captures the flavors of the North.

More Than Transport: Human–Dog Cooperation in the Arctic

In the Arctic, humans and sled dogs form a cooperative system that combines mobility, sensory awareness, and shared learning to adapt to extreme conditions.

Greenland Shark: How Can a Heart Beat for Centuries?

The Greenland shark, with an estimated lifespan of up to 500 years, is the longest-living known vertebrate on Earth.

How did the most powerful ocean current on Earth originate?

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current on Earth, transporting more than a hundred times the total volume of water carried by all rivers combined.

Increasing Microplastic Pollution in the Arctic

While the world powers compete for control of the Arctic, a new and unexpected contender has quietly emerged: microplastics.

Ingrid Pedersen: The First Woman to Fly Over the North Pole

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.

Bulgarian Antarctic Research

Bulgaria began its Antarctic activities as early as 1967–1969, when Bulgarian meteorologists participated in the 13th Soviet Antarctic Expedition.

Scientific Insights from an Inuit Narwhal Hunt

Researchers gained rare insights into narwhals by joining an Inuit hunt, revealing new details about their behavior and biology.

Surprising Discovery Beneath Greenland’s Ice

New research findings show that the bed beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet is structured differently than long assumed.

Farewell, Sun

A special moment marked the beginning of a long and challenging period at Japan’s Showa Station in Antarctica in early June.

Ocean Current AMOC: New Risks Discovered

A recent scientific study focuses on a key element of the global climate system: the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).

Wet tundra increases parasite risk for reindeer

Changing moisture conditions in the Arctic may influence parasite exposure in Svalbard reindeer by affecting where infective larvae are found.

Emily Lady Shackleton – The Patient Lady

Greta Paulsdottir

Of all the heroes of the Golden Age of Antarctic exploration (1897–1922), the name Ernest Shackleton shines the brightest.

Seawater as a Witness to Change on Svalbard

Scientists in Svalbard have shown that seawater can reveal which animals live in the Arctic, offering a new way to track how climate change is reshaping polar ecosystems.

Reindeer reveal rising Arctic pollution levels

Warming temperatures in the Arctic may be releasing long-stored pollutants, with Svalbard reindeer showing rising levels of persistent chemicals.

Cooking at the End of the World: Everyday Life in Antarctica

Icy winds, endless expanses of snow, and temperatures far below freezing, Antarctica is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth.

First “Woolly Mouse” as a Step Toward Reviving the Mammoth