Antarctic Science
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Scientists Reportedly Discover New Species of Marine Life on the Antarctic Ocean Floor
Strange underwater life ranging from hand-sized sea spiders to jelly-like sea pigs to a breeding sea butterfly has been found by Australian scientists investigating the Antarctic ocean floor. Taken aboard the RSV Nuyina icebreaker, these unusual species found at enormous depths provide understanding of life in one of the toughest places on Earth. S...
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SpaceX’s Fram2 Crew Captures First-Ever Views of Earth’s Polar Regions
SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, has made history as the first astronaut mission to orbit over both poles. The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience is carrying four first-time astronauts—Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Phillips—on a research-driven journey. The crew has captured stunning images of Earth’s Arct...
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Thriving Antarctic Ecosystem Found After Iceberg Split Leaves Scientists Stunned
Scientists found a rich community of fish, coral, octopus, anemones and sponges that previously sat beneath a sheet of ice 150 metres thick.
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Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the planet’s most powerful ocean circulation system, could slow by 20 percent by 2050 due to melting Antarctic ice. Researchers suggest that the influx of fresh, cold water is disrupting convection, altering global ocean density. A weaker current may allow warm water to reach Antarctica, accelerating ice loss an...
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World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Grounds Near South Georgia, Raising Wildlife and Environmental Concerns
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has run aground near South Georgia, a key wildlife haven. Scientists are monitoring its impact on marine life, particularly on penguins and seals, as it could disrupt feeding routes. Some experts suggest the iceberg may also enhance ocean productivity by releasing nutrients. If it fragments, it may pose risks to...
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69-Million-Year-Old Fossil Bird Skull in Antarctica Sheds Light on Waterfowl Evolution
Scientists have analysed a nearly complete fossilised bird skull found in Antarctica, dating back 69 million years. Identified as Vegavis iaai, the specimen is closely related to modern ducks and geese, with skull features supporting its classification as a waterfowl. Researchers suggest that its advanced vision and motor skills could have helped i...
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Antarctic Ice Sheet Melting May Intensify Volcanic Eruptions, Study Finds
The melting of Antarctic ice sheets is linked to more intense and frequent volcanic eruptions, as found by recent research. Reduced ice mass alleviates pressure on magma chambers beneath the surface, causing them to expand and release volatile gases, which can lead to eruptions. A study has drawn connections between this process and increased volca...
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NASA Satellite Image Reveals Unique Horseshoe-Shaped Deception Island in Antarctica
NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captured an image of Deception Island, a horseshoe-shaped semi-submerged volcanic caldera located in the South Shetland Islands. Created by an eruption approximately 4,000 years ago, it remains vital for scientific research and as a safe harbour for ships navigating the harsh Southern Ocean. Deception Island is home to th...
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World's Largest Iceberg A23a Resumes Journey North After Months of Stagnation
A23a, the largest iceberg in the world, has begun moving again after being trapped in a vortex near the South Orkney Islands. Weighing nearly a trillion tonnes and twice the size of Greater London, the iceberg has been stuck in the Weddell Sea for over three decades. Now on its way north, scientists are studying its potential environmental impacts,...
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NASA’s Antarctic Balloon Campaign Launches to Study Dark Matter and Beyond
NASA’s annual Antarctic Long-Duration Balloon Campaign, launching from the Ross Ice Shelf, will carry groundbreaking experiments like GAPS, aiming to detect anti-matter particles linked to dark matter. Supporting projects include the MARSBOx experiment, which examines fungal resilience in Mars-like conditions, and SPARROW-6 for wind measurement a...
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Antarctic 'Plastisphere': A Unique, Potentially Hazardous New Ecosystem
Antarctica, the worlds most remote, harsh and pristine continent, is not free from marine pollution. Where human activity goes, plastic debris inevitably follows.
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NASA's Twin Mini Satellites Captures Far-Infrared Radiation from Polar Regions
NASA’s PREFIRE mission, launched in 2024, is utilizing CubeSats to capture groundbreaking data on far-infrared radiation emitted from polar regions. These measurements, which track heat escaping from the Arctic and Antarctic, provide critical insights into Earth’s energy balance, a key component in understanding climate change. Despite encounte...
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Amber Discovered For the First Time in Antarctica: What You Need to Know
Scientists have uncovered the first-ever amber from Antarctica, dating back to the mid-Cretaceous period. Found in the Pine Island trough, this amber is between 92 and 83 million years old. The discovery offers insights into the ancient conifer-rich, swampy rainforest ecosystem near the South Pole. It also shows that all continents once supported r...
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Antarctic Ozone Hole Might Fully Recover by 2066, Claims New Study
In 2024, scientists observed a notable reduction in the size of the Antarctic ozone hole, marking it as the seventh-smallest on record. With ongoing efforts to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), experts are optimistic that the ozone layer could fully recover by 2066. Factors contributing to this positive trend include a decrease in harmful chemi...
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Rare Sea Smoke and Streaming Snow Phenomena Captured Near Pine Island Glacier
In October 2024, Pine Island Glacier displayed unusual atmospheric phenomena, including rare sea smoke and blowing snow. Captured by NASA's Landsat 8, these events were visible due to clear skies. Strong winds pushed warmer water to the surface, creating sea smoke, while blowing snow from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet influenced the glacier’s land...
-
Scientists Reportedly Discover New Species of Marine Life on the Antarctic Ocean Floor
Strange underwater life ranging from hand-sized sea spiders to jelly-like sea pigs to a breeding sea butterfly has been found by Australian scientists investigating the Antarctic ocean floor. Taken aboard the RSV Nuyina icebreaker, these unusual species found at enormous depths provide understanding of life in one of the toughest places on Earth. S...
-
SpaceX’s Fram2 Crew Captures First-Ever Views of Earth’s Polar Regions
SpaceX’s Fram2 mission, launched on March 31, has made history as the first astronaut mission to orbit over both poles. The Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience is carrying four first-time astronauts—Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Phillips—on a research-driven journey. The crew has captured stunning images of Earth’s Arct...
-
Thriving Antarctic Ecosystem Found After Iceberg Split Leaves Scientists Stunned
Scientists found a rich community of fish, coral, octopus, anemones and sponges that previously sat beneath a sheet of ice 150 metres thick.
-
Antarctic Ice Melt Weakens Strongest Ocean Current, Disrupting Global Circulation
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the planet’s most powerful ocean circulation system, could slow by 20 percent by 2050 due to melting Antarctic ice. Researchers suggest that the influx of fresh, cold water is disrupting convection, altering global ocean density. A weaker current may allow warm water to reach Antarctica, accelerating ice loss an...
-
World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Grounds Near South Georgia, Raising Wildlife and Environmental Concerns
The world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has run aground near South Georgia, a key wildlife haven. Scientists are monitoring its impact on marine life, particularly on penguins and seals, as it could disrupt feeding routes. Some experts suggest the iceberg may also enhance ocean productivity by releasing nutrients. If it fragments, it may pose risks to...
-
69-Million-Year-Old Fossil Bird Skull in Antarctica Sheds Light on Waterfowl Evolution
Scientists have analysed a nearly complete fossilised bird skull found in Antarctica, dating back 69 million years. Identified as Vegavis iaai, the specimen is closely related to modern ducks and geese, with skull features supporting its classification as a waterfowl. Researchers suggest that its advanced vision and motor skills could have helped i...
-
Antarctic Ice Sheet Melting May Intensify Volcanic Eruptions, Study Finds
The melting of Antarctic ice sheets is linked to more intense and frequent volcanic eruptions, as found by recent research. Reduced ice mass alleviates pressure on magma chambers beneath the surface, causing them to expand and release volatile gases, which can lead to eruptions. A study has drawn connections between this process and increased volca...
-
NASA Satellite Image Reveals Unique Horseshoe-Shaped Deception Island in Antarctica
NASA's Landsat 8 satellite captured an image of Deception Island, a horseshoe-shaped semi-submerged volcanic caldera located in the South Shetland Islands. Created by an eruption approximately 4,000 years ago, it remains vital for scientific research and as a safe harbour for ships navigating the harsh Southern Ocean. Deception Island is home to th...
-
World's Largest Iceberg A23a Resumes Journey North After Months of Stagnation
A23a, the largest iceberg in the world, has begun moving again after being trapped in a vortex near the South Orkney Islands. Weighing nearly a trillion tonnes and twice the size of Greater London, the iceberg has been stuck in the Weddell Sea for over three decades. Now on its way north, scientists are studying its potential environmental impacts,...
-
NASA’s Antarctic Balloon Campaign Launches to Study Dark Matter and Beyond
NASA’s annual Antarctic Long-Duration Balloon Campaign, launching from the Ross Ice Shelf, will carry groundbreaking experiments like GAPS, aiming to detect anti-matter particles linked to dark matter. Supporting projects include the MARSBOx experiment, which examines fungal resilience in Mars-like conditions, and SPARROW-6 for wind measurement a...
-
Antarctic 'Plastisphere': A Unique, Potentially Hazardous New Ecosystem
Antarctica, the worlds most remote, harsh and pristine continent, is not free from marine pollution. Where human activity goes, plastic debris inevitably follows.
-
NASA's Twin Mini Satellites Captures Far-Infrared Radiation from Polar Regions
NASA’s PREFIRE mission, launched in 2024, is utilizing CubeSats to capture groundbreaking data on far-infrared radiation emitted from polar regions. These measurements, which track heat escaping from the Arctic and Antarctic, provide critical insights into Earth’s energy balance, a key component in understanding climate change. Despite encounte...
-
Amber Discovered For the First Time in Antarctica: What You Need to Know
Scientists have uncovered the first-ever amber from Antarctica, dating back to the mid-Cretaceous period. Found in the Pine Island trough, this amber is between 92 and 83 million years old. The discovery offers insights into the ancient conifer-rich, swampy rainforest ecosystem near the South Pole. It also shows that all continents once supported r...
-
Antarctic Ozone Hole Might Fully Recover by 2066, Claims New Study
In 2024, scientists observed a notable reduction in the size of the Antarctic ozone hole, marking it as the seventh-smallest on record. With ongoing efforts to eliminate chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), experts are optimistic that the ozone layer could fully recover by 2066. Factors contributing to this positive trend include a decrease in harmful chemi...
-
Rare Sea Smoke and Streaming Snow Phenomena Captured Near Pine Island Glacier
In October 2024, Pine Island Glacier displayed unusual atmospheric phenomena, including rare sea smoke and blowing snow. Captured by NASA's Landsat 8, these events were visible due to clear skies. Strong winds pushed warmer water to the surface, creating sea smoke, while blowing snow from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet influenced the glacier’s land...
