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antarcticalatest news & developments
Antartica’s redesigned flag aims to focus attention on the microplastic crisis affecting the remote, pristine region

New ‘microplastic’ flag for Antarctica

The redesigned flag aims to focus attention on the microplastic crisis affecting the remote region

The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists of South Africa provides researchers a unique opportunity to visit Antarctica aboard the SA Agulhas II. Photo: SANAP

Applications for young Antarctic explorers are open

The Association of Polar Early Career Scientists of South Africa provides researchers a unique opportunity to visit Antarctica aboard the SA Agulhas II

Mind your back! A young King penguin on Marion Island seems curious about the satellite transmitter attached to an older penguin’s back. The device allows scientists to see where penguins go to find food at sea. (Photo: Pierre Pistorius)

E-tracking marine predators to protect Southern Ocean’s rich feeding grounds

Scientists from a number of institutions collaborated to collect data on 17 marine birds and mammals such as penguins, albatrosses, seals and whales in the ocean around Antarctica

Poison: PCBs become increasingly concentrated as they move up the food chain, leading to the death of orcas in oceans off industrialised countries. (George Karbus Photography)

Chemical killing the killer whales

Half the world’s orcas are doomed, because a coal byproduct has been leaking into the oceans for more than a century

Fifa President Sepp Blatter.

Sea level fears as more of giant Antarctic glacier floating than thought

Totten Glacier’s underbelly is being eroded by warm sea water flowing hundreds of kilometres inland after passing through underwater "gateways".

Crack attack: A rift across the Larsen C Ice Shelf

Breakaway iceberg as big as Jamaica

And it could mean that the Antarctic ice shelf is becoming unstable

Meltdown: Arctic and Antarctic ice has ‘shrunk’ by the size of three South Africas.

Polar ice the size of India vanishes in record heat

"Ice is shrinking at both ends of the planet, a development alarming scientists."

Another ecosystem in crisis as Southern Oceans around Antarctica get less salty

Critical ocean flows are changing, cutting off an ecosystem that regulates global temperatures and feeds fish.

Antarctica’s frozen sea isolates research stations

An increase in the level of ice around the frozen continent is making it difficult to get fuel and supplies to research stations.

The Spider balloon sailed about 35km above Antarctica for 16 days to collect data that will help scientists determine what happened immediately after the Big Bang.

Spider flies to catch an elusive wave

A South African astrophysicist is part of a team seeking to drag ancient cosmic secrets out of the polar skies.

Robot to test health of ocean ‘lungs’

In a pioneering move, a wave glider has been sent out to sea from Cape Town to measure pollution around Antarctica.

Robots plumb changes in Southern Ocean

Off the coast of South Africa, ocean robots are sending back information to help us to understand how the ­climate is changing.

Climate change pause exposes gaps in scientists’ theories

Scientists are struggling to explain a slowdown in climate change that defies a rise in global greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists discover ‘new life’ forms below Antarctic ice

Russia’s scientists believe they have discovered new life forms sealed off for millions of years in a subglacial lake deep under the Antarctic ice.

Ranulph Fiennes forced to end Antarctic trek

British explorer Ranulph Fiennes has pulled out of an expedition to cross Antarctica during the region’s winter after developing frostbite.

Explorers embark on Antarctica adventure

British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes calls it one of the last remaining polar challenges: crossing Antarctica during the region’s winter.

A turquoise lake in Antarctica.

Antarctic exploratory drilling halted

An ambitious British plan to search for minute forms of life in an ancient lake beneath Antarctica’s ice has been suspended due to technical problems.

New sea creatures found living in extreme conditions

Scientists exploring underwater vents near Antarctica have found a world of creatures thriving in temperatures of 400C°.

Search for missing yacht in Antarctic called off

The search for a Norwegian sailboat that has been missing in the Antarctic for a week following a massive storm was called off on Tuesday.

Hope fades for South Pole adventurers

Two Norwegian adventurers on Monday said they held slim hopes of finding the three other members of their party alive, after their yacht went missing.