What Antarctica’s ‘Doomsday’ Glacier Could Mean For The World

The massive Thwaites glacier in West Antarctica contains enough ice to raise global sea levels by 65cm if it were to completely collapse. And, worryingly, recent research suggests that its long-term stability is doubtful as the glacier hemorrhages more and more ice.   Adding 65cm to global sea levels would be coastline-changing amounts. For context, … Read more

Rare wispy ice formations streak across the sea near Antarctica in beautiful satellite images

Strong winds and unusual ocean currents helped paint a breathtaking icescape on the surface of the ocean near Antarctica, and the rare phenomenon was recently captured in a stunning satellite image.  The incredible image was taken on Nov. 20 by the Operational Land Imager onboard Landsat 8, a collaboration between NASA and the U.S. Geological … Read more

NASA is tracking two explorers across Antarctica to prepare humans for Mars

NASA is tracking two explorers on a 2,268-mile (3,650 kilometers) journey across Antarctica to learn more about humanity’s ability to survive on Mars.  British explorers Justin Packshaw and Jamie Facer Childs are on the 32nd day of an 80-day trek across the southernmost continent as part of the Chasing the Light mission — a grueling … Read more

Antarctica: Remarkable trove of species found living beneath ice shelf

The variety of species found below an Antarctic ice shelf shows that life can survive in hostile, food-poor environments for thousands of years Environment 20 December 2021 By Adam Vaughan Hot water drilling in Antarctica Sophie Berger/AWI An astonishing variety of marine life has been discovered in the freezing darkness hundreds of metres below Antarctica’s … Read more

Thwaites glacier could break free of Antarctica by 2030

Antarctica’s Thwaites glacier could break free of the continent within 10 years, which could lead to catastrophic sea level rise and potentially set off a domino effect in surrounding ice Environment 13 December 2021 By Adam Vaughan Thwaites glacier on the West Antarctic ice sheet NASA/OIB/Jeremy Harbeck The front of a “doomsday glacier” in Antarctica … Read more

Thwaites glacier could break free of Antarctica by 2030

Antarctica’s Thwaites glacier could break free of the continent within 10 years, which could lead to catastrophic sea level rise and potentially set off a domino effect in surrounding ice Environment 13 December 2021 By Adam Vaughan Thwaites glacier on the West Antarctic ice sheet NASA/OIB/Jeremy Harbeck The front of a “doomsday glacier” in Antarctica … Read more

Magnificent photos from the sharp end of historical adventure

By Gege Li Photos Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) MAGNIFICENT adventures are captured in this selection of images from the ongoing Lights and Shadows exhibition, organised by the Royal Geographical Society in London. The scenes from travels and expeditions on display are taken from the society’s historic image collection, and reveal the marked progress of … Read more

Once Shunned in Antarctica, Female Scientists Are Now Doing Crucial Polar Research

In 1981, as a young scientist, I applied for my dream job as a geologist with the British Antarctic Survey. As a child, I had adored snow and ice. Winter was my favorite season (and still is). My most cherished book was Wilson A. Bentley’s atlas of snowflake photographs, and I avidly read the accounts … Read more