Latest news with #AustralianAntarcticProgram
ABC News
28-06-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Antarctic scientists analyse first samples from 'Million Year Ice Core' project
Inside an ice-cold laboratory in Hobart, where the temperature is almost 20 degrees Celsius below zero, scientists in thick puffer jackets begin their work. Wearing gloves, they carefully pull out a one-metre cylinder of ice from an insulated box that recently arrived from Antarctica. "In the freezer lab today, we're cutting the first samples from the 'Million Year Ice Core'," Dr Joel Pedro explained. For almost a decade, the paleoclimatologist and a team from the Australian Antarctic Program have been planning an ambitious project. Known as the 'Million Year Ice Core', the aim is to extract the world's oldest, continuous core of ice from deep beneath the frozen continent. "More than any other archive of climate in the past, [ice cores have] a range of information that helps you to understand the changes in the total climate system," Dr Pedro said. In other words, ice cores are like time capsules that allow scientists to get a clear picture of the Earth's climate and atmospheric history. That's because they contain tiny bubbles of air trapped over thousands, and even millions of years, depending on the depth of the ice. The ice that's being analysed in the Hobart laboratory comes from a depth of 150 metres, making it almost 4,000 years old. While it's a significant milestone, it's only the start of a much bigger mission. Over the coming years, the team hopes to reach a depth of 3,000m. If successful, it will be the oldest ice ever recovered. Getting to this point has been a mammoth logistical undertaking. The drill site, known as Dome C North, is 1,200 kilometres from the nearest Australian station in Antarctica. It's also 3,000m above sea level, where the temperature can fall below minus-50 degrees Celsius. Turning the site into a deep field station involved a 10-person team using six tractors to haul almost 600 tonnes of gear across the frozen landscape. "In the Australian program, it's the biggest traverse that we've undertaken," traverse leader Chris Gallagher, from the AAD, said. After enduring multiple blizzards, the team eventually made it to Dome C North 18 days after setting off from Casey Station. "It's a very specialised team that has extremely high skills, but also that ability to really get on with each other and care for each other," Mr Gallagher said. Once the accommodation modules and drill shelter were set up, a separate team of scientists flew in to begin drilling and processing the ice core. Chelsea Long, a field assistant, said the extraction of the first section of ice was a momentous occasion. "It was really celebratory when it came out and just finally to see this happening and to touch the ice and measure it, was a real joy," she said. For Dr Pedro, it was a moment to savour after many years of hard work, as well as delays caused by the COVID pandemic. "The start to the project was easily the most exciting thing that's happened in my science career," he said. "But at the same time, it's just the start of the project — we've [still] got 3 kilometres to go." Currently, the oldest ice core on record dates back almost 800,000 years. But a European team, known as Beyond EPICA, recently extracted ice from a depth of 2,800m, which is expected to date back almost 1.2 million years. The Australian team plans to drill more than 200m deeper than Beyond EPICA, which Dr Pedro said could date back up to 2 million years. "If we can get this record − and the modelling suggests [Dome C North] is the best site in Antarctica for recovering [the] oldest ice − then we'll produce data that will stand for decades as the measurement of Earth's atmosphere [and] greenhouse gas levels through that period." If successful, that data would help scientists better understand why the Earth's ice ages became much longer about a million years ago. "It remains one of the biggest puzzles, [or] challenges, in ice core science and in climate science to resolve what the cause of that was, and, in particular, what the role of C02 [carbon dioxide] was in that." Data from the 'Million Year Ice Core' could also improve the accuracy of climate change forecasts. The team plans to resume drilling during the 2025/26 summer and expect to reach the 3,000m-mark in 2028/29.
Newsweek
10-06-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
What Woman in Antarctica Does for Sunlight Fascinates Internet
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A video offering a rare glimpse into daily life during the polar winter in Antarctica has captivated millions on TikTok, showing how one woman copes with months of total darkness—by visiting a so-called "happy light room" to simulate sunlight. The video, posted by TikTok user @ has racked up 2.4 million views since it was shared on June 3. Text overlaid on the video reads: "POV [point of view]: You live in Antarctica, haven't seen sunlight in two months. So you walk to the happy light room for the daily dose of 'sunlight.'" The clip begins with the woman stepping outside in a long winter coat and sandals—with no socks—before trekking through the snow to another building. Once inside, she flicks on the lights to reveal a modest office-style room with a few nature scenes taped to the walls. "It's winter right now down here," the caption shared with the post explains. "Will experience 24/7 darkness for about two more months!!! I think I'll cry when I see the first sunrise in August. And when I land in NZ after being on ice it'll be that much more good." Life in Antarctica during mid-winter is defined by its absence of daylight. As the Australian Antarctic Program describes it: "For a few weeks each year the sun fails to rise on the world's most southerly continent. Antarctica in mid-winter is bathed in a dusky half-light or shrouded in darkness, with the sun's orbit ensuring the warming rays no longer reach the icy landmass." During these months, both humans and wildlife adapt to the prolonged darkness. Emperor penguins remain to incubate eggs, while mosses and lichens endure the freeze until the sun returns, the program notes. But for humans stationed on the ice, the lack of sunlight can lead to physiological challenges. A January 2009 study published in Osteoporosis International, which monitored 120 expeditioners in Antarctica, found that after six months without sunlight, 85 percent developed vitamin D insufficiency. The study also observed decreased serum calcium and increased levels of the parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is released by the parathyroid glands to control calcium levels in the blood. Bone loss at the proximal femur, the upper end of the thigh bone that connects to the hip joint, was also observed. The findings highlight the health risks of prolonged light deprivation and underscore the importance of artificial light therapy in extreme environments. 'Wild' Viewers on TikTok were intrigued by the woman's life in Antarctica, but underwhelmed by the "happy light room" reveal. "That's the room??? I would not survive," user maranda commented. The poster replied: "I'll take it!! I go in there all the time." User steve asked: "So it's just a room with lights?" to which the original poster simply responded: "Yeah." "I was expecting a really cool scientifically advanced room that had a sunlight simulator or something," user @hayyitstiana remarked. Others chimed in with imagined versions of the room. "I thought the room was going to be full of all kinds of plants with grow lights and maybe a small water feature with happy nature sounds playing... I was VERY mistaken," said midwest_lndigo. Still, not all viewers were focused on the lighting. Some were stunned by the poster's wardrobe choice—open-toed sandals in Antarctic conditions. "I'm stuck on the open toed shoes in ANTARCTICA," Clara said. "Why r u walking about in Antarctica sockless," asked Lunaspina. "Having your toes out in Antarctica is wild. I'm scared of you," added Kat. Others questioned the emotional toll of extended darkness. "I'm very curious how long I would last with seasonal depression," wrote user sage. The original poster responded: "Awww noooo, being here is so nice. The community is great!! There's a gym and sauna here! And other social activities." Despite the disorienting environment, the creator seems to have adjusted. "I don't notice it that much tbh [to be honest]," she wrote in a reply to one comment. "It's normal at this point LOL." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified. Stock image: A view of the Akademik Vernadsky research base on Galindez Island in Antarctica. Stock image: A view of the Akademik Vernadsky research base on Galindez Island in Antarctica. Getty Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@ and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists discover strange life on Antarctica's ocean floor
In the beginning of 2025, a team of scientists discovered a pristine underwater ecosystem in the Antarctic (Southern) Ocean after a large iceberg broke away from the massive continent. Now, only a few months later, a new team of scientists exploring the Antarctic Ocean floor has captured and documented several strange species that call the cold floor home. The crew on the RSV Nuyina is on a mission to study the effects of warming sea temperatures on the Denman Glacier. DON'T MISS: According to the Australian Antarctic Program website: 'The Denman Glacier is one of the fastest retreating glaciers in East Antarctica, with the potential to increase global sea levels by 1.5 metres.' Part of the team's mission is also to study and reveal what life exists on the seafloor near the glacier to understand the biodiversity of species for future conservation. Path the RSV Nuyina is taking to reach the Denman glacier on it's groundbreaking voyage. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) Using a beam trawler, the team pulled up heavy mud containing several interesting bottom-dwelling creatures. A camera was also deployed to the ocean floor so the team could observe the creatures without disturbing them. SEE ALSO: Additionally, the ship is equipped with a specialized "wet well" which allows researchers to gently pull up small, fragile creatures from the water and into a tank where they can be collected and observed. Scientists are able to observe and take care of captured specimens in aquariums onboard the RSV Nuyina. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) 'Nobody has ever done this in this area—it is real 'voyage of discovery' stuff,' Craig Johnson, Senior Scientist and project lead for the benthic imagery team for the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science on the Denman Marine Voyage, said in a blog post published on April 4. 'The silence in the room gives way to sounds of delight as all manner of animals come into view. Bloated sea pigs and other species of sea cucumber, brittle stars, and sea stars feed on the organic material in the sediment, while spectacular feather stars (crinoids), sponges, fan worms, hydroids, and sea whips (octocorals) filter their food from the water.' This gelatinous-looking blob is called a "sea pig," and is a type of sea cucumber that was collected by scientists on the Antarctic ocean floor. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) One of the species that has garnered public attention is the sea pig. No, it isn't an actual aquatic pig living on the bottom of the ocean; it's a type of sea cucumber that was named for its pig-like appearance. Another misnomer species the scientists collected is the sea butterfly. Called a butterfly for its fluttering appearance while swimming, this creature is actually a type of sea snail! Called a "sea butterfly" for its fluttering appearance when swimming in the water, this creature collected by the team of scientists is a type of sea snail. (Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division) Those who suffer from a fear of spiders may not want to know that large sea spiders were also collected from the ocean floor. Despite their creepy, spindly appearance, sea spiders are actually more closely related to crabs and crustaceans than to the arachnids we all know and (sometimes) love. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's news outlet, ABC News, some of the scientists onboard the vessel believe that some of the species they've collected and observed could be new to science. In addition to this research, other teams on the RSV Nuyina are investigating how clouds are formed over the Antarctic Ocean. The voyage will make its return to Hobart, Australia, in early May. Written with files from ABC News and Live Science. Thumbnail image supplied by the Commonwealth of Australia/Australian Antarctic Division.
Miami Herald
15-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Antarctic creature makes rare appearance on New Zealand beach. See the ‘king'
The large mass of land and ice on the southern tip of the planet is ruled by the emperor penguin. Standing more than 4 feet tall, the massive bird is the largest penguin in the world, uniquely adapted to survive in the barren Antarctic. The surrounding islands, however, belong to their slightly smaller noble cousin — the king penguin. King penguins live in places like the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia Island and the Crozet Islands in breeding colonies on the small patches of land in the south Atlantic and Indian Oceans, according to the Australian Antarctic Program. These islands are incredibly remote, making sightings of the penguins outside the subantarctic rare. That's why a tour group in a private nature reserve in New Zealand were so shocked when they saw a king penguin walking along the beach. 'A rare sighting at The (Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance) today — a king penguin stopped briefly on the beach before heading back out to sea,' the organization said in an April 13 Facebook post. 'These birds have been sighted fewer than 10 times in New Zealand.' The tour group watched as the penguin spent about 20 minutes on the beach before heading back to the water, alliance director Jerad Haldan told Radio New Zealand on April 15. 'It is incredibly rare,' Haldan told the news outlet. 'I think most people will be aware we had an Adélie (penguin) stop by last year during the season and so this is two seasons now where we've had some of the rarest penguins stopping by.' The distance from Dunedin, where the reserve is located, to mainland Antarctica is more than 1,500 miles, and the distance to the isolated islands is even farther, so while the species themselves are not rare, their appearance so far outside their natural range is noteworthy. 'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for our staff as well,' Haldan said. King penguins were first discovered by European explorers in the 18th century and were thought to be the same as emperor penguins until 1844, according to the Australian Antarctic Program. In the 19th and 20th centuries, they were hunted nearly to extinction after the seal population was hit severely and hunters turned to the king penguins as a new source of oil, according to the program. Today, their population is considered of 'least concern' and their numbers are increasing, according to the International Union on the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. King penguins specifically eat lantern fish but increase their diet variety to include squid over the winter, according to the Australian Antarctic Program. Dunedin is in southern New Zealand, on the Pacific coast.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Donald Trump Imposes Tariffs on Islands Only Inhabited by Penguins
Originally appeared on E! Online Not even the penguins are exempt from 's tariffs. On April 3, the president announced a new plan that implements a universal 10 percent tariff on imports to the U.S., as well as higher tariffs for dozens of select countries. Among the places that will be facing the plan's new import taxes include Australian territories Heard Island and McDonald Islands, which are near the Arctics. But these islands—which currently contain active volcanoes—are completely uninhabited by humans. In fact, it takes a two-week journey by boat from Perth to even access the islands. "Since the first landing on Heard Island in 1855, there have been only approximately 240 shore-based visits to the island,' notes the Australian Antarctic Program website, 'and only two landings on McDonald Island (in 1971 and 1980).' And with the value of all items imported by the U.S. in 2024 adding up to zero, the 10 percent tariff will seemingly only affect the penguins and seals that call the small territories home. More from E! Online Teddi Mellencamp Confirms Stage 4 Cancer and New Tumors in Heartbreaking Update Kanye West Reveals Wife Bianca Censori Left Him After Controversial Rants Malcolm in the Middle's Erik Per Sullivan Seen for the First Time 18 Years However, these islands aren't the only nearly barren lands that are facing Trump's tariffs. Jan Mayen Island, which has a population of zero, is facing the same circumstances. But in this case, the Norwegian volcanic island's polar bears will, er, bear witness to the new plan. Meanwhile, the Falkland Islands, which is a British overseas territory in the Atlantic, has a population of 3,200 people and around one million penguins. Now, the remote archipelago is facing tariffs of 41 percent. Meanwhile, Britain itself only faces 10 percent tariffs. Norfolk Island, which is another Australian territory that has just over 2,000 inhabitants, is also facing exponentially higher tariffs than its mainland with a whopping 29 percent. 'I'm not sure what Norfolk Island's major exports are to the United States and why it's been singled out, but it has,' Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters after Trump's announcement, per CBS News. 'I'm not quite sure that Norfolk Island, with respect to it, is a trade competitor with the giant economy of the United States, but that just shows and exemplifies the fact that nowhere on Earth is safe from this.' For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
