The latest in Antarctica

NASA finds shrimp dinner on ice beneath Antarctica

2010-03-15T13:16:04Z

<div id="subtitle">600 feet below Antarctic ice where nothing complex should live, NASA catches a curious shrimp</div><div><p>In a surprising discovery about where higher life can thrive, scientists for the first time found a shrimp-like creature and a jellyfish frolicking beneath a massive Antarctic ice sheet.</p><p>Six hundred feet below the ice wher...

"Ice Queen" melts gender bias in Antarctica

2010-03-10T22:30:16Z

<div><p>SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - In the 1980s, an era when women struggled to carve out their role in the corporate world, Diana Patterson overcame rejection and gender bias to become the world's first female to run an Australian Antarctic Station.</p><p>In 1987, after battling what she called "the boy's club" of the Antarctica 'kind of weird,' as icebergs collide in unexpected place and stay stable elsewhere</div><div><p>With the dramatic crash of an iceberg against a glacier that dislodged a massive new chunk of ice, the mysterious continent of Antarctica once again did the unexpected.</p><p>A big chunk of ice, slightly smaller than Oahu, broke off from a place ...

2 huge icebergs let loose off Antarctica's coast

2010-02-26T09:30:14Z

<div id="subtitle">Huge iceberg hits Antarctica, slicing off second iceberg; effect on ocean currents debated</div><div><p>A massive iceberg struck Antarctica, dislodging another giant block of ice from a glacier, Australian and French scientists said Friday.</p><p>The two icebergs are drifting together about 62 to 93 miles (100 to 150 kilometers) off eastern Antarctica following the collision on Feb. 12 or 1...

Giant iceberg breaks off from Antarctic glacier

2010-02-26T06:15:34Z

<div><p>SINGAPORE (Reuters) - An iceberg the size of Luxembourg has broken off from a glacier in Antarctica after being rammed by another giant iceberg, scientists said on Friday, in an event that could affect ocean circulation patterns.</p><p>The 2,500 sq km (965 sq mile) iceberg broke off earlier this m...

Climate change melts Antarctic ice shelves: USGS

2010-02-22T15:00:42Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Climate change is melting the floating ice shelves along the Antarctic Peninsula, giving scientists a preview of what could happen if other ice shelves around the southern continent disappear, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on Monday.<...

Antarctica Whaling

2010-02-09T02:46:25Z

In this photo released by the Institute of Cetacean Research of Japan, anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's ship the Bob Barker fires a laser beam at the Japanese whaling ship Troll Research Station, Antarctica, in February 2009. The Norwegian-American Scientific Traverse of East Antarctica was one of the longest research treks ever undertaken in one of the least-explored parts of the southernmost continent. (AP Photo/Charles Hanley)

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No damage from 6.3 quake in far southern Atlantic

2010-02-22T19:09:24Z

<div id="subtitle">A 6.3 temblor shakes the ocean floor near Antarctica _ and only seismologists notice</div><div><p>Earthquake monitors say a 6.3 magnitude temblor has shaken the ocean floor between South America and Antarctica, too deep and far from land to cause any damage.</p><p>The Antarctica goes green with launch of New Zealand-US wind farm on frozen continent</div><div><p>A small part of Antarctica turned green Saturday as the ice-covered continent's biggest wind farm, which can generate enough electricity to power 500 homes, was formally switched on.</p><p>The...

Sea icy off part of Antarctica despite fear of melt

2010-02-22T22:16:15Z

<div><p>OSLO (Reuters) - Sea water under an East Antarctic ice shelf showed no sign of higher temperatures despite fears of a thaw linked to global warming that could bring higher world ocean levels, first tests showed on Monday.</p><p>Sensors lowered through three holes drilled in the...

Remains of early 1900s plane found in Antarctica

2010-02-23T02:10:21Z

<div id="subtitle">Researchers find remains of airplane brought to Antarctica in 1912 by explorer Douglas Mawson</div><div><p>Remains of the first airplane ever taken to Antarctica, in 1912, have been found by Australian researchers, the team announced.</p><p>The Mawson's Huts Foundation...

Antarctica Explorers Airplane

2010-01-03T00:00:18Z

In this 1912 image provided by the Mawson's Huts Foundation, an unidentified man stands next to a Vickers airplane used during an Australian Antarctic Expedition in Antarctica. Remains of the first airplane ever taken to Antarctica have been found by Australian researchers, the team announced Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Mawson's Huts Foundation, Al Gore warned UN climate talks Monday that the record melting of glaciers worldwide could deprive more than a billion people of access to fresh water.</p><p>"There are more than a billion people on the planet who get more than half of their drinking water -- many of them all of their drinking water -- from the se...

Antarctic nations plan tough new shipping controls

2010-02-23T18:46:46Z

<div id="subtitle">Antarctic nations plan tough new controls on ships in bid to avert environmental disasters</div><div><p>Countries that manage Antarctica plan tough new controls on ships visiting the southern oceans and the fuels they use to reduce the threat of human and environmental disasters as tourist numbers rise, officials said Saturday.</p><p>The new c...

Australia shipping alert over massive iceberg

2010-02-23T17:44:03Z

<div><p>Australian authorities Friday issued a shipping alert over a gigantic iceberg that is gradually approaching the country's southwest coast.</p><p>The Bureau of Meteorology said the once-in-a-century cliff of ice, which dislodged from Antarctica about a decade ago before drifting north, was being monitored using satellites.</p><p>"Mariners are advised that...

Book Talk: German photographer aims lens at polar wildlife

2010-02-23T18:36:11Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Earth's polar extremes may seem monochromatic and hostile to life, but a new book shows they are teeming with colorful creatures.</p><p>"Antarctic" includes some 180 images, each spread across two large-format pages. It aims to elicit an emotional reaction from wildlife enthusiasts -- and anyone concerned about the environment -- by showing animal...

Antarctica Tourism

2009-12-09T08:17:30Z

FILE - In this image taken on Dec. 5, 2005 and released by Norwegian shipping company Hurtigruten, two of the Norwegian shipping company's cruise ships, the M/S Nordnorge, left, and M/S Nordkapp in Paradise Bay in the Antarctica. In 2007, M/S Nordkapp, with nearly 300 passengers on board, ran aground in the Antarctic and damaged its hull before getting free of rocks. Officials said Wednesday Dec. 9, 2009, countries that manage Antarctica want s...

Antarctic nations consider new controls on ships

2010-02-23T18:36:17Z

<div id="subtitle">Antarctic nations considering new controls on ships amid tourism explosion</div><div><p>Countries that manage Antarctica are considering new controls on ships visiting the frozen continent to reduce the growing threat of human and environmental disasters posed by exploding numbers of tourists, an official said Wednesday.</p><p>A proposal for a...

NZ fears tourism disaster in Antarctica

2010-02-23T18:44:23Z

<div><p>New rules are needed for tourist ships visiting Antarctica to prevent a disaster in the world's most isolated region, according to New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.</p><p>"I am greatly concerned that unless we take action, there will be a serious maritime casualty involving a tourist vessel in Antarctica, and ...