Adaptations allow Antarctic icefish to see under the sea ice
Antarctica may seem like a desolate place, but it is home to some of the most unique lifeforms on the planet. Despite the fact that land temperatures average around -60°C and ocean temperatures hover near the freezing point of saltwater (-1.9°C), a.....»»
Melting glaciers in a warmer climate provide new ground for invasive species
Invasive species have rapidly colonized new ground exposed by melting glaciers in the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, according to new research......»»
Milk on ice: Antarctic time capsule of whole milk powder sheds light on the enduring qualities of dairy products
In a remarkable discovery, whole milk powder manufactured in New Zealand in 1907 and transported to Antarctica with explorers seeking the South Pole was unveiled after more than a century. The findings have allowed dairy researchers to answer the que.....»»
Antarctic sea ice near historic lows: Arctic ice continues decline
Sea ice at both the top and bottom of the planet continued its decline in 2024. In the waters around Antarctica, ice coverage shrank to near-historic lows for the third year in a row. The recurring loss hints at a long-term shift in conditions in the.....»»
Animal hair structure changes from summer to winter to fend off freezing weather, researchers show
Unique adaptations allow wild animals to survive temperature extremes that would quickly kill an unprotected human. For example, certain animals can withstand bitterly cold weather, thanks to the insulating properties of the hollow hairs that make up.....»»
Polar plastic: 97% of sampled Antarctic seabirds found to have ingested microplastics
Anthropogenic plastic pollution is often experienced through evocative images of marine animals caught in floating debris, yet its reach is far more expansive. The polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica are increasingly experiencing the impacts o.....»»
High-resolution imagery advances the ability to monitor decadal changes in emperor penguin populations
Emperor penguin populations have been exceedingly difficult to monitor because of their remote locations and because individuals form breeding colonies on seasonal sea ice fastened to land (known as fast ice) during the dark and cold Antarctic winter.....»»
The lows and lows of Antarctic sea ice
Data from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) have revealed another summer of exceptionally low sea-ice extent around Antarctica......»»
An 80-mph speed record for glacier fracture helps reveal the physics of ice sheet collapse
There's enough water frozen in Greenland and Antarctic glaciers that if they melted, global seas would rise by many feet. What will happen to these glaciers over the coming decades is the biggest unknown in the future of rising seas, partly because g.....»»
Good things don"t come in threes for Antarctic sea ice
As this month marks the third consecutive summer with extremely low sea-ice cover around Antarctica, new statistical research points to fundamental changes taking place in the polar Southern Ocean......»»
Video: The latest science on tipping points in Antarctica
Ice loss from Antarctica has increased over the recent decades. The ice sheet in this remote continent covers about 98% of the Antarctic continent and is the largest single mass of ice on Earth. Even small changes in ocean conditions in the future co.....»»
Studying the otherworldly sounds in Antarctic waters
In freezing Antarctic waters, amid bobbing chunks of floating ice, the hums, pitches and echoes of life in the deep are helping scientists understand the behavior and movements of marine mammals......»»
Increased rainfall threatens UK sea urchins: Study
Sea urchins exposed to diluted seawater for long periods show signs of physical deterioration, according to scientists from the British Antarctic Survey, the University of Cambridge, and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Their study also f.....»»
Ice cores provide first documentation of rapid Antarctic ice loss in the past
Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the British Antarctic Survey have uncovered the first direct evidence that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet shrunk suddenly and dramatically at the end of the Last Ice Age, around eight thousand years ago......»»
Deep learning forecasts Antarctic sea ice trends for 2024—projected to remain close to historical lows
The year 2023 stands out as the warmest year on record globally, accompanied by the highest recorded ocean temperatures. Amidst these extreme and unusual climatic conditions, Antarctic sea ice extent (SIE), after breaking the second consecutive satel.....»»
Dangerous climate tipping points will affect Australia. The risks are real and cannot be ignored, say researchers
In 2023, we saw a raft of news stories about climate tipping points, including the accelerating loss of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, the potential dieback of the Amazon rainforest and the likely weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Ocean Circu.....»»
Vitamin B12 adaptability in Antarctic algae has implications for climate change, life in the Southern Ocean
Vitamin B12 deficiency in people can cause a slew of health problems and even become fatal. Until now, the same deficiencies were thought to impact certain types of algae, as well. A new study has examined the algae Phaeocystis antarctica's (P. antar.....»»
Study challenges classical view of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current origin and warns of its vulnerability
The Circumpolar Current works as a regulator of the planet's climate. Its origins were thought to have caused the formation of the permanent ice in Antarctica about 34 million years ago. Now, a study led by the University of Barcelona, the Instituto.....»»
Ice and fire: Antarctic volcano may hold clues to life on Mars
On Deception Island in Antarctica, steam rises from the beaches, and glaciers dot the black slopes of what is actually an active volcano—a rare clash of ice and fire that provides clues to scientists about what life could look like on Mars......»»
10 most anticipated sci-fi movies of 2024
From Dune and Alien sequels to tons of book adaptations, 2024 has some highly anticipated sci-fi movies premiering throughout the year......»»
Scientists chart the growing weather extremes on maritime Antarctic islands
Scientists at British Antarctic Survey have found that the number of warm weather events in the South Orkney Islands has significantly increased in frequency over the last 75 years. Using newly available historical data, scientists have identified th.....»»