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Polar

Barnacle geese have developed new migration routes and breeding grounds amid warming global temperatures. 

Animal species are evolving to adjust to climate change, but scientists say time is running out

The Big Fix

Scientists have been studying changes in animal physiology and behavior, some of which they believe are linked to rising global temperatures. They say the adaptations are beneficial, but may have limitations in the long term.

A small herd of reindeer on a snowy field

Reindeer eyes change color, putting Rudolph’s red nose in the shade, new research says

An iceberg melts in Kulusuk, Greenland near the Arctic Circle, Aug, 16, 2005. A new report finds permafrost in the Arctic is thawing faster than ever before.

Critical permafrost research in Russia disrupted by war in Ukraine

Environment
This mother polar bear and her two cubs are headed down to the sea ice in the Svalbard archipelago. She’ll have to teach them to hunt seals, their primary prey, in a changing landscape.

Svalbard’s polar bears persist as sea ice melts — but not forever

Climate Change
People watch a TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with file footage at a train station in Seoul, South Korea

North Korea launches suspected ballistic missile

Top of The World
Sea ice breaks apart as the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica traverses the Northwest Passage through the Victoria Strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in a Friday, July 21, 2017, file photo.

Sea ice plays a crucial role in cooling the planet. It’s melting at record-breaking rates.

Climate Change

According to research at the Norwegian Polar Institute, last decade’s average Arctic sea-ice levels hit their lowest in 1,000 years. And last month, sea ice reached its lowest point ever recorded in July.

An Emperor penguin jumps out of the water.

With global warming, Emperor penguins will ‘have no place to breed’ says researcher

Climate Change

A new study says if global warming continues at its current rate, more than 80% of Emperor penguin colonies will be gone in the next 80 years. Phil Trathan, who co-authored the study, joined The World’s host Marco Werman to discuss the plight of penguins.

An elder wearing sunglasses and a white coat points off into the Arctic distance while standing by another man wearing sunglasses.

New app helps Inuit adapt to changing climate: ‘It’s time for the harpoon and computer to work together’

The Big Fix

Digital tools like SIKU facilitate real-time monitoring and data gathering to give Arctic communities more capacity to track trends in sea ice and wildlife — and plan for the future.  

ICARUS cosmonaut space station

New ICARUS tracking system helps scientists unlock mysteries of migration

Environment

Information collected from orbiting satellites can tell us a lot about the weather, our changing climate and abundant life on Earth. Thanks to advances in technology, soon we may be able to watch, in real-time, the movements and migration of tiny winged species, including insects.

Smoke rises from wildfires near Berezovka River in Russia

A heat wave in Siberia signals dangerous Arctic warming

Siberia hit a record-high temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit on June 20 in the town of Verkhoyansk, north of the Arctic Circle. Scientists say it is an ominous sign of things to come. “I was shocked at the magnitude of it …” says Susan Natali, Arctic program director at Woods Hole Research Center.