Antarctica news, features and articles
Latest about Antarctica
Never-before-seen shapes up to 1,300 feet long discovered beneath Antarctic ice
By Ben Turner published
The unusual patterns, found beneath West Antarctica's Doston Ice Shelf, could help scientists to better understand how glaciers erode.
Giant river system that existed 40 million years ago discovered deep below Antarctic ice
By Kristel Tjandra published
"There was this gigantic river system": Researchers find ancient lost world deep beneath Antarctic ice.
Blood Falls: Antarctica's crimson waterfall forged from an ancient hidden heart
By Sascha Pare published
Iron-rich waters buried beneath Taylor Glacier in East Antarctica are sporadically released in what looks like a bloody mess — but the so-called Blood Falls aren't as gruesome as they first appear and sound.
Antarctic ice hole the size of Switzerland keeps cracking open. Now scientists finally know why.
By Ben Turner published
The Maud Rise polynya has been sporadically opening up in Antarctica's ice since at least the 1970s. Now climatologists finally know why.
'We were in disbelief': Antarctica is behaving in a way we've never seen before. Can it recover?
By Ben Turner published
Antarctic sea ice has been disappearing over the last several summers. Now, climate scientists are wondering whether it will ever come back.
Hundreds of emperor penguin chicks spotted plunging off a 50-foot cliff in 1st-of-its-kind footage
By Ben Turner published
The fledglings are typically reared on floating platforms of sea ice, but an unprecedented decline in the ice extent has driven young onto cliffs.
'Unprecedented,' 'Gobsmacked', 'Unbelievable': Changes in Antarctica's sea ice could have dramatic impacts, says climate scientist Edward Doddridge
By Ben Turner published
In 1898, the crew of the first scientific expedition to Antarctica became trapped inside sea ice around the southernmost continent. Much of that once thick ice is dwindling, says polar researcher Edward Doddridge.
'2023 just blew everything off the charts': Antarctic sea ice hits troubling low for third consecutive year
By Ben Turner published
Sea ice extent in Antarctica is vital for keeping ice on the continent and sea levels low. But its dwindling extent could mean the continent has shifted to a new regime, with global ramifications.
Zoom through a 'spectacular' chain of ancient underwater volcanoes on Antarctic ocean floor
By Sascha Pare published
A research expedition in the Southern Ocean has mapped a string of seamounts that help to shape the Antarctic Circumpolar Current — an ocean current that flows clockwise around Antarctica.
World's biggest iceberg 3 times the size of New York City is finally escaping Antarctica after being trapped for almost 40 years
By Harry Baker published
The gigantic iceberg A23a, which broke off from Antarctica in 1986, is finally moving away from the icy continent after being stuck on the seafloor for decades.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.