Polar News and Notes Science

photo taken by batintherain; subject to a Creative Commons license
Did you know that while the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents, Antarctica is a continent surrounded by oceans? While this sounds like a simple play on words, it represents a profound difference in the geography, climate, and ecology of the two regions.
Did you […]

Did you know that you can take a cruise to Antarctica? You can land at a penguin rookery, kayak, hike, or even camp overnight on the seventh continent’s ice. What was once reserved for the bravest explorers and scientists is now available to anyone willing and able to pay.
A quick Google search lists many […]

A photograph by Spiritwood Images; subject to a Creative Commons license
Did you know that polar bears live only in the Arctic? Many people wonder why polar bears don’t eat penguins, another animal popularly associated with the poles. In fact, these two animals live at the opposite ends of the earth! The giant marine mammals […]

Did you know that a Japanese whaling fleet departed the port of Shimonoseki on Sunday, heading toward the waters off Antarctica to hunt humpback whales? These whales, once nearly extinct and listed as an endangered species, are now listed as “vulnerable” by the World Conservation Union. Their worldwide population is estimated in the range of […]

Did you know that Anchorage, Alaska, experiences approximately 19 hours of daylight on the summer solstice? Or that in Barrow, Alaska, the sun does not set for 84 continuous days during the summer (approximately May 10-August 2)?
 
Did you know that summer temperatures in Fairbanks, Alaska, can reach 100+ degrees Fahrenheit? Or that Alaska’s short but […]

Did you know that there are 17 species of penguins, and that only a few of those 17 call Antarctica home? While visiting South Africa, our tour guide suggested a stop at Boulders Beach to see the penguins. Penguins? In Africa? The idea seemed laughable, but a short walk down the boardwalk revealed hundreds of […]

Did you know that we’re in the midst of the International Polar Year, the first since 1958? That probably doesn’t surprise you too much — the results of polar research are in the news almost daily. In addition, images of polar bears and penguins are ubiquitous in our popular culture, appearing in everything from blockbuster […]