Arctic

Northern Lights over Zurich – for Mike Jakob, it was a magical moment to witness the usually Arctic phenomenon in his own sky.

Environmental and Climate Problems in the Arctic

The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth, with serious consequences for the environment and human health.

Icelandic Fish Casserole

Icelandic fish casserole is a delicious combination of tender fish, potatoes, creamy sauce, and flavorful cheese.

Russia plans to salvage sunken submarines

The Russian government has included funds for the recovery of the sunken Soviet nuclear submarines K-27 and K-159 in the draft federal budget for the years 2026 to 2028.

Deepest ice reef in the world discovered – and it’s teeming with life

Deep beneath the ocean surface, where hardly any light penetrates and water pressure is immense, a reef made of ice is growing.

Great Power Competition in the Arctic Is Intensifying

Tensions between the United States, Russia, and China have increasingly spread to the Arctic.

How Do Whales Get Full on Plankton?

Whales are among the largest living beings that have ever lived on Earth....

Polar Night: How Darkness Shapes Rhythm, Psyche, and Community

Lisa Scherk

In the northern polar regions, the sun disappears below the horizon for weeks or even months during winter – a phenomenon known as the polar night.

Joint Statement on Greenland

Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security.

When Will the Dispute Over Greenland Escalate?

For now, the situation still appears calm. It is still considered unlikely that the United States will gain control over Greenland in the near future.

Donald Trump: “We do need Greenland, absolutely”

“We do need Greenland, absolutely” Donald Trump said in a telephone interview with the American magazine The Atlantic.

Greenland: Ongoing security policy discussions between the United States and NATO partners

U.S. President Donald Trump once again put pressure on international partners, suggesting that countries which do not support stronger U.S. control over Greenland could face punitive tariffs.

Diomede Islands: Only 3.8 Kilometers Separate the USA and Russia

Nestled in the harsh expanse of the Bering Strait, between Alaska and the Russian Chukotka Peninsula, lie the Diomede Islands.

Agreement on Air Traffic Control Signed in Nuuk

Greenland Airports and the Danish state-owned air navigation service provider Naviair have officially signed their agreement on the future provision of air traffic control at Nuuk Airport.

DNA Analyses: Mammoth Remains Turn Out to Be Whales

What for decades was considered a sensational Ice Age discovery has now turned out to be a mistake.

Norway and Russia Agree on Fishing Quotas for the Barents Sea

After record-long and difficult negotiations, Norway and Russia have reached an agreement on fishing quotas for the Barents Sea for the year 2026.

Oil Pipeline Through the Permafrost

With the “Vankor–Payakha–Sever Bay Pipeline,” Russia is pushing ahead with one of the largest energy projects in the High North.

The United States appoints a special envoy for Greenland

Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, has responded firmly to a new move by Donald Trump that has intensified diplomatic tensions surrounding Greenland.

Hope in the Ice – Rare Adoption of a Polar Bear Cub near Churchill Surprises Researchers

Near the small town of Churchill in northeastern Manitoba, a mother polar bear was spotted with two cubs – but only one of them was her own.

Putin approves North Pole base and additional Arctic projects by decree

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered by decree on 15 December the construction of a non-permanent ice base at the North Pole.

“Arctic Watch” Ceases Tourist Operations

Nunavut / Canada – Arctic Watch, one of the northernmost tourism operations in the world, is permanently discontinuing all tourist activities after 25 years.

Data Connection Planned Across the Arctic

With Polar Connect, a groundbreaking initiative is emerging that aims to digitally link Europe and Asia via an entirely new route.

Beyond sled dogs and gold

Polar Journal AG Team

Drawing on his background in anthropology and an equal passion for history, Michael Engelhard, through the lens of one pivotal city, surveys the seam that links two neighboring continents.

From Berlin to Svalbard – The History of the Ny-Ålesund Locomotive

This locomotive tells a story of hard labor, technical challenges, and the human determination to extract resources even under the most extreme conditions.

At the Edge of the Ice – A Visual Expedition to Northern Greenland

Swiss photographer Markus Bühler presents the exhibition “At the Edge of the Ice – Travelling in Northern Greenland”

Russia’s Arctic infrastructure is becoming increasingly vulnerable

The destruction of permafrost and extreme weather events could cost the economy billions of dollars.

Solar Eclipse 2026 – The North Takes Center Stage

On August 12, 2026, the eyes of astronomers will turn to two regions that are usually far from major celestial events: Greenland and Iceland.

Why Bowhead Whales Live for More Than 200 Years

With a lifespan of more than 200 years, bowhead whales are the Methuselahs of the animal kingdom, no other mammal lives longer.

Russian LNG tankers continue to use Norwegian ports for stopovers

Despite heightened geopolitical tensions and Western sanctions, Norway remains an important stopover point for LNG tankers transporting gas from the Russian Arctic.

Norway Pauses Deep-Sea Mining Plans Until 2029

Lisa Scherk

Norway has decided to halt deep-sea mining plans in Arctic waters until at least 2029. The move was announced on 1 December 2024.

Climate Change Puts Arctic Migratory Birds Under Time Pressure

Climate change is altering the rhythm of nature, particularly noticeably in the Arctic. Spring now begins much earlier there than it did just a few decades ago.

South Korea Is Investing Heavily in Building Arctic-Capable Ships

The South Korean government is pushing its Arctic strategy forward.

Ivittuut – Greenland’s forgotten cryolite capital

On the southwestern edge of Greenland lies the ghost town of Ivittuut. Once a lively settlement due to its global importance in the production of metallic aluminum.

Global decline in reindeer population

According to a new international scientific study, the global reindeer population will decline dramatically by the end of this century due to the climate crisis.

Atomflot sues Dutch shipping company

On 25 July 2025, Atomflot filed a lawsuit against the Dutch company Damen Shipyards Gorinchem B.V. with the Murmansk Region Arbitration Court, demanding the repayment of €12.6 million in advance payments for the construction of ice-class tugboats for the Northern Sea Route.

Dani Arnold achieves the first winter ascent of the Tarantellen in Svalbard

Swiss extreme mountaineer Dani Arnold has written a new chapter in his adventure career with an extraordinary winter ascent.

A fern fossil from the time of the dinosaurs discovered in Antarctica

A spectacular fossil discovery on Livingston Island sheds new light on the prehistoric vegetation of Antarctica.

Elevated radon levels have been measured on Novaya Zemlya.

Members of the Arctic Floating University expedition working on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago have detected an increase in natural radioactivity.

Deep-Sea Mining in the Arctic: Opportunity for the Energy Transition – or Threat to a Fragile Ecosystem?

Lisa Scherk

The Arctic holds mineral resources that are becoming increasingly important for a climate-friendly future. Against this backdrop, Norway faces a decision with far-reaching consequences

Investigation of unexplored ocean currents in northern Greenland

The little-explored region in northern Greenland was the last area of investigation that the Polarstern explored on three Arctic expeditions since the end of May 2025.

Greenlandic cuisine – Tørret Fisk

Tørret Fisk is a traditional dish that captures the essence of Nordic cuisine.

Greenland seeks closer ties with the EU

Forty years after leaving the EEA, Greenland is seeking closer ties with the EU again. Following pressure from Trump on the island, the government in Nuuk wants to forge closer ties with Europe and hopes for more financial support.

Russia withdraws from the Barents Sea Agreement

The Barents Sea faces the threat of an environmental disaster following the potential collapse of the fisheries agreement between Norway and Russia.

Metop-SGA1 will improve weather forecasts

A new addition to the weather satellite family of the European Organisations for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. Metop-SGA1 was successfully launched from Kourou on 13 August 2025 aboard an Ariane 6 rocket.

Into the Polar Night - Aboard Norway’s Icebreaker RV Kronprins Haakon

After roughly two and a half weeks of research in the far north, the Norwegian icebreaker Kronprins Haakon returned to the port of Longyearbyen.

Unexpected Celestial Fire – Northern Lights over the City of Zurich

The spectacular natural phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis – better known as the Northern Lights – is typically visible in high northern latitudes.

New Russian-Chinese Collaboration in the Polar Regions

Russia and China will jointly train specialists for navigation in polar waters, according to a memorandum signed during Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s visit to China, the Russian Ministry of Transport announced on its Telegram channel.

Precious metal production in Chukotka continues to grow

Chukotka is a remote region in north-eastern Russia, home to several large gold mines. The region is known for its harsh climate and difficult living conditions.

Arctic seals threatened by climate change

Three Arctic seal species are threatened with extinction, according to the latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Swiss Seed Samples for the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard