Science

The Arctic fox changes its coat with the seasons, shifting from brown in summer to white in winter to stay camouflaged year round.

Record polar bear pressure on eider nesting islands in Kongsfjorden

Marcel Schütz

An unusually intense summer of polar bear visits has put one of Svalbard’s key eider duck breeding areas under heavy pressure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

A genetically engineered mouse with strikingly dense, woolly fur is currently attracting attention in the scientific community.

Krill fishing and bycatch in the Southern Ocean

Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean is tightly managed, but new research shows that bycatch and local fishing pressure remain important concerns.

Bird Flu Confirmed in Polar Bear on Svalbard

A polar bear found dead on Svalbard has tested positive for H5N5 avian influenza, the first confirmed case of bird flu in a polar bear in Europe.

Antarctic krill: a key species in the Southern Ocean

Antarctic krill are small crustaceans that form the foundation of the Southern Ocean ecosystem.

Inspection of Fire Protection Equipment at Showa Station

At the beginning of April 2026, a comprehensive inspection of all fire protection equipment was carried out at Japan’s Showa Station.

250 million years ago, a meteorite struck Antarctica

An international team of researchers has discovered a impact crater beneath the ice of Antarctica using two GRACE satellites.

How warming affects microbial processes in polar regions

Microbial processes in warming polar regions may influence greenhouse gas emissions and climate beyond the Arctic and Antarctic.

Rain, Slush and Record Temperatures Mark April on Svalbard

Exceptionally warm temperatures and heavy rain disrupted research, tourism and winter activities across Svalbard during one of the Arctic archipelago’s warmest Aprils on record.

Cold-adapted microbes and their biotechnological potential

Cold-adapted microbes produce enzymes that function at low temperatures, offering potential applications in industry and biotechnology.

Life in a frozen world: microbes in the cryosphere

Microbial life thrives across Arctic and Antarctic environments, using specialized adaptations to survive extreme cold, ice and limited resources.

50 Years of Georg Forster Station – A Milestone in Polar Research

On April 21, 1976, the future Georg Forster Station of the former GDR was officially inaugurated in the Schirmacher Oasis in Antarctica.

When AI Counts Penguins: High-Tech in Antarctica

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is opening up new possibilities for scientific research, particularly in the field of ecology.

Together Against Climate Change at the South Pole

As part of the 62nd Chilean Antarctic Expedition, a team from the Chilean Antarctic Institute visited several sites on the Antarctic Peninsula. The aim was to ensure that the automatic weather stations were in working order.

Killer whales expand into the Arctic

As sea ice retreats, killer whales are moving into the High Arctic, disrupting fragile ecosystems.

Viruses and Bacteria: A Threat from Permafrost

Climate change is not only bringing rising temperatures and melting glaciers, it may also release a largely overlooked danger: ancient pathogens from permafrost.

Crossing Antarctica by Kite-Ski: Experience from the Field

From stalled winds to failing equipment, Heïdi Sevestre describes what it really takes to cross Antarctica by kite-ski.

Deep ocean drives Antarctic iron supply

Melting Antarctic ice may not fertilize the ocean as expected, as most iron instead comes from deep water and the seafloor.

Drone sampling reveals virus in Arctic whales

Cetacean morbillivirus has been detected in Arctic whales for the first time, raising new questions about marine mammal health in northern waters.

New Sensors Measure Air Quality in Antarctica

Ukrainian scientists have expanded their research on air quality in some of the most remote regions on Earth.

Parmjit Singh Sehra – First Indian in Antarctica

Polar Journal AG Team

As part of his doctoral research, Dr. Singh Sehra spent a total of 18 months in Antarctica and circumnavigated the continent together with Soviet researchers.

The Svalbard Treaty: A Brief Overview