Antarctic

Black-and-white photo of two men in outdoor gear standing besides a large harpoon gun on a boat

The Soviet Union once hunted endangered whales to the brink of extinction — but its scientists opposed whaling and secretly tracked its toll

The Soviet Union was a latecomer to industrial whaling, but it slaughtered whales by the thousands once it started and radically under-reported its toll to international monitors.

The Soviet Union once hunted endangered whales to the brink of extinction — but its scientists opposed whaling and secretly tracked its toll
ICARUS cosmonaut space station

New ICARUS tracking system helps scientists unlock mysteries of migration

New ICARUS tracking system helps scientists unlock mysteries of migration
Penguins stand on ice in Antarctica.

Emperor Penguins could march to extinction if nations fail to halt climate change

Emperor Penguins could march to extinction if nations fail to halt climate change
Joee Patterson is shown with her arms outstretched while wearing sunglasses and a red safety vest.

For this marine tech, Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier drives home threat of climate change

For this marine tech, Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier drives home threat of climate change
A ma in a bright orange suit holds his left arm in the air as an elephant seal opens its mouth to bellow.

These high-tech seals are charting future sea level rise

These high-tech seals are charting future sea level rise
Three crew members are shown in a room with a green floor all leaning in order to stay balanced.

Antarctica Dispatch 2: Crossing the Drake Passage

The World's Carolyn Beeler crossed the passage armed with tips on how to prevent seasickness — and about a pound of ginger — and sent back her second dispatch from the trip.

Antarctica Dispatch 2: Crossing the Drake Passage
the lush Antarctic seafloor

Mapping the colorful and diverse creatures of the Antarctic seas

Hidden under the cover of sea-ice for most of the year, and living in cold water near the seafloor, are thousands of unique species. Research has generated new techniques to map where these species live, and predict how this might change in the future.

Mapping the colorful and diverse creatures of the Antarctic seas
Humpback whale

The humpback whale population is recovering

Melting Antarctic ice has led to an abundance of krill and with all that food, humpback whales are thriving, with high rates of pregnancy. The question is: How long can this last?

The humpback whale population is recovering
Snow is blown off of the calving front off of Thurston Island in western Antarctica in this photo, taken in November 2014. New findings show the western side of Antarctica to be more vulnerable to warming oceans — and increased ice loss — than first thoug

A scientist's response to Antarctic ice loss: 'We can act.'

When it came to figuring how much ice loss was taking place over the last five years in Antarctica, they knew it was a bad situation — but they did not realize it was this bad.

A scientist's response to Antarctic ice loss: 'We can act.'
A ship carrying tourists plies the waters off Antarctica.

Antarctica needs humans to protect it. It also needs humans to stay away. What's a potential visitor to do?

Every trip to Antarctica inspires awe and concern for the fragile frozen continent. But every trip also contributes to the global warming that's eating away at the place. So is it better to visit Antarctica, or stay away?

Antarctica needs humans to protect it. It also needs humans to stay away. What's a potential visitor to do?
Thwaites Glacier

Just how unstable is the massive Thwaites glacier? Scientists are about to find out.

A new five-year US and British research project hopes to give policy makers a better sense of how much west Antarctica will drive rising seas.

Just how unstable is the massive Thwaites glacier? Scientists are about to find out.
penguins sliding down a glacier

Photos: The glacial beauty of a journey to Antarctica

Photographer Alexandre Meneghini documented his trek to the beautiful, southernmost continent.

Photos: The glacial beauty of a journey to Antarctica
IceCube observatory

A new book recounts the amazing history of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory

IceCube’s ability to spot where neutrinos come from provides a powerful new tool for understanding many mysteries of the universe.

A new book recounts the amazing history of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory
Wind patterns in the ice pack that covers the Arctic Ocean north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska on March 18, 2011.

Sea ice has hit new record lows at both poles

These are the smallest polar ice caps in the Arctic and Antarctic this time of year in the 38-year satellite record.

Sea ice has hit new record lows at both poles
Scientists holds the arms of a colossal squid as they examine the squid at a national museum facility in Wellington, New Zealand.

A rare colossal squid was dissected in New Zealand — and you can watch it on YouTube

Last summer in the southern hemisphere, a fishing vessel in the Antarctic Ocean pulled up a rare creature — a 770-pound colossal squid. Only one other such animal had been pulled up intact before, surprisingly, by the same vessel. It is thought that the giant marine beast might be the origin of legends of undersea monsters. Scientists in New Zealand froze it to preserve it and just defrosted and dissected it.

A rare colossal squid was dissected in New Zealand — and you can watch it on YouTube