Science

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

The Svalbard Treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access and peaceful use of the Arctic archipelago for all signatory nations.

New Rhino Species Discovered in the High Arctic

The Canadian Museum of Nature has announced the identification of a previously unknown, extinct rhinoceros species from the High Arctic.

Unknown Island Discovered in Antarctica

An international research team discovered a previously unknown island during an expedition in the northwestern Weddell Sea.

Cryopeg: Liquid water hidden in permafrost

Cryopegs are pockets of salty liquid water in permafrost where microbes survive, revealing life’s resilience and hints of life beyond Earth.

Emperor penguins classified as “highly endangered species”

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time and has profound effects on nature and wildlife.

Arctic Diatoms Glide at Record-Low Temperatures

Arctic ice diatoms can move through ice down to −15 °C, revealing remarkable adaptations that help them survive and thrive in polar ecosystems.

New Polarstern Build: Model Successfully Passes Ice Tests

Significant progress has been made in the construction of the German research icebreaker “Polarstern”: A scale model of the future vessel has successfully passed its final tests in the ice tank.

Antarctica as the Gateway to Mars

Pamela da Costa

During the Cold War, polar and space exploration became part of global technological competition.

“MONACA” Recovered After Six Days

After days of searching, the autonomous underwater robot “MONACA” has been successfully recovered.

Hidden Forces Shape Antarctica’s Gravity

A slight dip in gravity beneath Antarctica is linked to slow movements of rock deep within the Earth over millions of years.

King Penguins Benefit from Climate Change

Climate change is altering seasons worldwide and disrupting the timing between plants and animals.

Sveagruva Opens Doors to Science

Sveagruva, a historic mining settlement, is now a research base giving UNIS scientists unprecedented access to study eastern Svalbard’s glaciers, geology, and ecosystems.

Smoke from Wildfires Reaches Antarctica

Antarctica, long regarded as an untouched natural region, is increasingly affected by global environmental changes.

Warming of the Barents Sea Threatens Fish Stocks

A significant rise in temperatures in the Barents Sea is endangering the spawning grounds and food supply of key fish species.

Climate Change Reduces Radiation Risk of the “Komsomolets”

A recent study examines how climate change affects the potential spread of radioactive substances from the sunken Soviet nuclear submarine ‘Komsomolets’.

Emperor Penguins Facing an Uncertain Future

Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey made a significant discovery while analyzing satellite images along the coast of Marie Byrd Land.

Heatwaves Linked to Barents Sea Ice Loss

Barents Sea ice loss is driving simultaneous heatwaves in Europe and East Asia, showing how Arctic changes affect distant weather.

Scientists Monitor Avian Influenza in Antarctica

The emergence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 in Antarctica remains a central focus of international research.

Waste management in Antarctica (Part 2)

Pamela da Costa

Can waste management practices in Antarctica provide a model of sustainability for extreme environments?

New Life Forms Beneath the Denman Glacier

Antarctica, a harsh and ice-covered continent, was long considered a habitat for only a few extremely resilient organisms.

Improved Real-Time Arctic Sea Ice Predictions

A new study reveals significant advancements in predicting Arctic sea ice in real-time.

Arctic Fires as a Climate Warning Signal

Wildfires are increasingly sweeping across regions of the Arctic that were long considered too cold and too wet for large-scale fires.

Waste management in Antarctica (Part 1)

Pamela da Costa

Can waste management practices in Antarctica provide a model of sustainability for extreme environments?

The Svalbard Rock Ptarmigan: A Master of Camouflage

The Svalbard rock ptarmigan is a master of camouflage in the Arctic, adapting its plumage to blend seamlessly with the snowy landscapes.

Wind-Powered Science: Kite-Skiing Across Antarctica

Glaciologist Dr. Heïdi Sevestre and explorer Matthieu Tordeur crossed Antarctica by kite-ski, while collecting geophysical data with ground-penetrating radars.

Climate Change Drives Walruses Northward

The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth. What appears in scientific diagrams as a simple temperature curve represents a profound upheaval for the animals of the North. The fate of the Pacific walrus is particularly striking.

Trade Secret: Arctic Premiere Sheds Light on Polar Bear Fur Trade

Lisa Scherk

Last Friday, on International Polar Bear Day, Trade Secret had its Arctic premiere in Longyearbyen, Svalbard.

Why Caribou Choose New Routes Every Year

Caribou use collective experience to flexibly adapt their migrations to changing winter conditions.

First Seed Deposit of 2026 at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault carried out its first deposit event of 2026 this week.

Plan to Protect Polar Bears Adopted Through 2028

The five countries in which polar bears are native have agreed on a new international action plan to protect the species.

Record Core Brings New Insights into West Antarctica

An international team of researchers has recovered the longest sediment core ever drilled beneath an ice sheet, a scientific breakthrough for climate research.

The role of science in the development of places in Antarctica

Antarctica often appears on maps as an empty white space. Yet for the people who work there, it is anything but an abstract region.

Shark filmed in Antarctica for the first time

A spectacular discovery is causing a stir in marine research: for the first time, a large sleeper shark has been filmed in the icy deep sea of Antarctica.

4,500 Years Ago: Greenland’s First Seafarers

The earliest inhabitants of Greenland already possessed advanced maritime skills.

Blood Falls: The Blood-Red Secret of Antarctica

A bright red waterfall bursting out of eternal ice, right in the middle of one of the coldest regions on Earth: Blood Falls are among the most mysterious natural phenomena in Antarctica.

The search for the fifth Shackleton Medal winner has begun

The search for the fifth recipient of the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions has begun. The award is presented each year on the birthday of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and aims to highlight the global importance of these sensitive regions.

When Light Guides the Hunt – How Ringed Seals Adapt Their Diving Rhythm to the Arctic

In the Arctic Ocean, survival is determined not only by ice cover, but also by light.

70th Anniversary of the Russian Antarctic Station Mirny

On February 13, 1956, the flag of the USSR was raised at the first Soviet Antarctic station, Mirny.

Greenland under Tectonic Stress