New survey of Antarctic krill
Krill are tiny crustaceans found in huge quantities in the Southern Ocean. They are a vital food source at the base of the food chain, eaten by whales, penguins, seals and squid.
Last year, we posted about an industry initiative to protect…
Manhattan-sized cavity under Thwaites glacier
Satellite data from a NASA-led project has revealed a massive cavity under the Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica. The cavity covers an area about two-thirds the area of Manhattan and is 300 m tall. This discovery has surprised scientists who…
UK teams sets 2 km record for hot-water drilling
A UK team has drilled over 2152 metres down to the base of the West Antarctic ice sheet, setting a new record for hot-water drilling.
Often scientists remove 'ice cores' to learn more about how our planet responded to climate change in the…
Happy penguin awareness day!
Today we celebrate penguins: Penguin Awareness Day.
Emperor, royal, king, gentoo... they are all beautiful in their own way, and funny too. They are special to my heart, ever since I met my first royal penguin, climbing a slope to greet me…
Antarctic ice loss increases sixfold
A new study from the University of California, Irvine, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Netherlands' Utrecht University shows that the yearly loss of ice mass in Antarctica has increased sixfold in the last four decades. Read moreâ€â€¦
Where is Antarctica heading?
What will Antarctica look like in 2070? Will it be transformed almost beyond recognition? Will global warming lead a huge loss of ice, major sea level rise, radical upheaval to ecosystems, and a massive in growth in human presence and resource…
Antarctic science and wonders 2018
We love this round-up of Antarctic science 2018 from the Live Science website: Ghost Particles and Singing Ice.
ECJ ruling may complicate EU proposals on marine protection
A judgment of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), issued in November 2018, may have implications for proposals for the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Antarctica which were presented to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic…
Worrying news: East Antarctic ice sheet is melting
For a long time, it was thought that the East Antarctic ice sheet was stable, unlike the west of the continent. But now scientists have found signs of significant melting with potentially serious consequences for rising sea levels. Read more…
Scientists discover hotspot at the South Pole
New research with ice-penetrating radar has revealed hot rocks under the Antarctic ice sheet at the South Pole. The heat is causing the bottom of the ice to melt. It's a relatively small effect, but a big surprise for the scientists!
And…