Animals
Polar Bears That Persist
A new subpopulation of Greenland polar bears offers insights into how this species might hang on as Arctic ice disappears.
"arctic"
Space & Physics
Is Earth Becoming a Less Habitable Planet?
The Arctic now has seven times less old sea ice than it did 30 years ago. What does that mean for our planet's habitability?
Environment
The Arctic Paradox Poses Questions about Sustainable Development
Call it a contradiction of glacial proportions—an Arctic paradox.The world pushes for stronger protective measures to curb climate change scientists say is accelerating the destruction of the Arctic—melting ice sheets, thawing frozen soil and threatening the iconic polar bear. Call it plan A.There is a contingency plan, however, that takes advantage of new Arctic opportunities—in shipping, mining, drilling and national security—if the big melt continues apace...
Environment
Giant Waves Quickly Destroy Arctic Ocean Ice and Ecosystems
The biggest waves seen in northern sea ice show how this vital cover can be crushed much faster than expected
Environment
As Sea Ice Disappears, Arctic Ringed Seals Could Get Largest Critical Habitat Ever
Arctic ringed seals (Phoca hispida hispida) could soon get a critical habitat more than twice the size of California within the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas.
Health
Sickness Spreads across the Arctic
As the far north heats up, its inhabitants—from musk oxen to residents of growing cities—are getting ill
Evolution
A DIY Fossil Hunting Activity for Pre-K Classrooms
The following project constitutes a half-hour activity for 3-, 4-, or 5-year olds. It includes the entire process from finding fossils to putting the recovered pieces together like a puzzle to drawing our best guess at what it looked like in life...
Environment
How Low Will the Arctic's Summer Sea Ice Go?
Seasonal sea ice projections for this summer could be improved by including measurements of pools of water that collect on top of sea ice as it melts
Evolution
Polar Bears Diverged from Brown Bears Fairly Recently
An evolutionary analysis shows that the two species diverged within the past 500,000 years
Environment
Sonar Spots Invisible Arctic Oil Spills
Boom in Arctic Ocean drilling means hazardous leaks under ice, hidden from sight—but not from sound
Music Steeped in the Wilds of Canada
Eighteen years ago this July, a group of 14 adventurers unloaded tents, gear, food, canoes, and two guitars from the back of a big old bus and loaded them into 7 canoes in a nondescript boat launch outside of Yellowknife, NWT...
Environment
Mathematical Patterns in Sea Ice Reveal Melt Dynamics
Some people call Ken Golden the "Indiana Jones" of mathematics due to his frequent excursions to remote, harsh parts of the world. Golden, a professor of mathematics at the University of Utah, studies the dynamics of sea ice, and he regularly goes out into the field to test his hypotheses...
Environment
Warming Arctic Spurs Cyclones and Sea Ice Loss
The frequency of the strongest storms in the Arctic continues to increase
Biology
Climate Change Proves a Survival Experiment for Wildlife
The rapid, unplanned experiment of global warming is pushing some animals to the brink
Environment
Indoor Arctic Ocean Model May Reveal Secrets of Sea Ice
A new project could help improve understanding of how the dwindling sea ice interacts with the atmosphere...
Biology
Polar Bears Hunt on Land as Ice Shrinks
Polar bears are shifting their hunting techniques and diets as Arctic ice continues to melt
