Polar News and Research
Both the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions represent two of the most intense and important areas for scientific research and exploration on the planet. These extreme, inhospitable environments harbor crucial insights into everything from climate change’s accelerating impacts to the fundamentals of physics, space science, glaciology, biodiversity and more. Stay informed on the latest news, discoveries and scientific advancements from the Arctic and Antarctic polar regions.
Polar News
Stay up-to-date with the latest developments, scientific discoveries, and environmental news from Antarctica and the Arctic. Our curated news feed brings you the most relevant and interesting stories from the world’s polar regions.
Recent Antarctica News:
Antarctica News
Lake Vostok: The 15 million-year-old lake buried miles beneath Antarctica's ice
Buried several miles beneath East Antarctica's ice, Lake Vostok is one of the largest freshwater lakes on Earth, rivaling Lake Ontario in terms of size and volume.
Antarctica's only insect could help humans travel deep into space
Scientists believe Antarctica's only native insect could hold secrets to space travel
Science news this week: 'Impossible' black holes and Antarctica's hidden 'plumbing'
Feb. 8, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
Fossil discovered in Antarctica
A near complete skull fossil found in Antarctica has revealed the oldest known modern bird — a mallard duck-size creature related to the waterfowl that live by lakes and oceans today, a new study has found.
Orcas off Antarctica filmed teaching calves to hunt in incredible new footage
PBS show "Nature: Expedition Killer Whale" reveals an hour-long lesson where adult orca teach calves how to hunt seals off Antarctica.
Remarkable Fossil Discovery Hints at Antarctic Origins of All Modern Birds
A near-perfect fossilized skull discovered in Antarctica reveals the bridge between prehistoric and modern birds, a new study has found.
Loon-like waterfowl from dinosaur-era Antarctica is oldest ‘modern’ bird
Fossils of Vegavis were first described two decades ago, but insufficient cranial remains left its place on the bird family tree ambiguous
Scientists discover hidden 'plumbing' that's driving Antarctic ice sheet into the ocean
Maps created by combining different models of glaciers and ice sheets reveal the way water is flowing deep beneath Antarctica's ice.
Skull fossil discovery reveals oldest known modern bird
A 68-million-year-old skull fossil found in Antarctica has revealed the oldest known modern bird, which was likely related to the waterfowl that live by lakes and oceans today, according to new research.
How Antarctica's missing meteorites were discovered using a block of ice, a freezer and a lamp
In this excerpt from "The Meteorite Hunters," author Joshua Howgego reveals how researchers came up with a way to recover lost meteorites — using just a lamp, a freezer and a block of ice.
Recent Arctic News:
Arctic News
Steve Bannon calls Arctic ‘tremendous vulnerability’
Steve Bannon says Canada does not have the military might or stomach to protect its Arctic interests.
The polar vortex is acting weird and the US is paying the price this winter
It’s really, really cold again – as the US shivers through at least the eighth blast of air from the Arctic this winter. Here’s why it keeps happening.
Snowy roads lead to hundreds of Virginia and North Carolina crashes as Arctic air brings record cold
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Officials in Virginia and North Carolina asked drivers to avoid travel Thursday as unusually heavy snow led to hundreds of accidents, including crashes on an interstate
Polar vortex makes much of US colder than Greenland, but warmth is coming. Then more cold
The polar vortex’s icy grip on much of America has Arctic Greenland seeming like a toasty vacation spot by comparison.
Legal Battle Ignites Over Trump's Offshore Drilling Plans
Environmental groups filed lawsuits on Wednesday to stop President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn offshore drilling bans implemented by former President Joe Biden. The legal challenges, initiated in Alaska, aim to reinstate protections for 128 million acres across the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, safeguarding sensitive ecosystems.
Polar vortex makes much of US colder than Greenland, but warmth is coming. Then more cold
The polar vortex’s icy grip on much of America has Arctic Greenland seeming like a toasty vacation spot by comparison.
Snow maps reveal Arctic blizzards to hit 27 UK counties in -3C freeze
Many areas of the UK have been predicted snow
Vancouver weather: Arctic air to bring cold temperatures
The Metro Vancouver, BC weather forecast includes colder temperatures at the start of March 2025 following a milder, wetter pattern at the end of February.
A cold front emerges in Canada’s Arctic
Decades of low tension in the high north are done, replaced by rising geopolitical tensions.
Tuesday PM Forecast: rainy night followed by sharply colder temperatures
After a soaking rain Tuesday night, another Arctic air mass takes over. The Capital Area will be facing low wind chills and hard freeze conditions in some areas on Thursday and Friday morning.
Polar Research
The Arctic and Antarctic polar regions represent some of the most intense scientific research zones for studying fields like:
Climate Change & Environmental Science
- Rising temperature impacts
- Sea ice decline/glacial melt
- Shifting ecosystems and wildlife patterns
Glaciology & Paleoclimatology
- Deep ice core drilling studies
- Modeling past climate cycles
- Understanding atmospheric influences
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
- Polar vortex, jet stream behavior
- Ozone measurements and depletion
- Solar activity interaction
Space Physics & Astronomy
- High altitude astrophysics research
- Cosmic ray/aurora observation stations
- Neutrino particle detection arrays
Marine Biology & Biogeochemistry
- Arctic/Antarctic marine mammal populations
- Microorganism studies in polar ice/oceans
- Impacts of ocean acidification
Through joint international efforts and permanent research facilities across the Arctic and Antarctica, scientists are constantly uncovering new findings that deepen our knowledge of these remote yet influential regions. Explore our curated collection of polar science news, scholarly publications and educational resources to stay updated on the latest groundbreaking discoveries being made on the cutting edge of polar research.