Reykjavik

Glaciologists say that between 1995 and 2010 Iceland’s glaciers lost about a meter of vertical thickness per year. The the “Blue Blob” appeared, halving that loss.

‘Blue Blob’ slows glacial melt in Iceland as temperatures rise across the globe

Environment

About 10% of Iceland is still covered by glaciers — what Icelanders call their “white diamonds.” Now, a mysterious patch of cold water in the North Atlantic Ocean, known as the “Blue Blob,” is helping slow down the rate at which these glaciers are melting. But scientists are concerned about how long this will last.

a sign outside of a clinic welcomes asylum seekers in various languages

Iceland fast-tracks Ukrainian refugees to residency, employment

Ukraine
The harbor of Nuuk, Greenland's capital.

China’s Arctic ambitions have revived US interest in the region

Building

In Iceland, turning CO2 into rock could be a big breakthrough for carbon capture

Climate Change
A young Syrian girl is wrapped with a thermal blanket following a rescue operation on the island of Lesbos, in Greece.

Icelanders say they want to house Syrian refugees — but in Greece the government and residents are overwhelmed

Conflict
Sverrir Ibrahim Agnarsson, chairman of the Muslim Association of Iceland, inside the group's makeshift mosque in Reykjavik.

Could Charlie Hebdo happen in Reykjavik? How Iceland’s Muslims try to convince people it won’t

Belief

The Muslim population of Iceland, made up of immigrants, foreign students and a few homegrown converts, is small but growing. And the community may soon be getting its first custom-built mosque with land donated by the city of Reykjavik, but not without objections from a vocal minority.

Boy jumps into public pool in Auxerre.

No Speedo? Then don’t try to go swimming in France — seriously

Lifestyle

Public pool rules in France say your swimsuit can’t be something you could be found wearing outside the pool. That means no trunks, Bermuda shorts, T-shirts or anything that is not strictly meant for swimming. But bust out all the Speedos you want.

Mountain view in Iceland

Take a drive across Iceland, in music and photos

Music

When Tamar Charney went to Iceland, she thought she had the perfect playlist for her trip. But when her rental car didn’t have a jack for her MP3 photo, she had a problem. Fortunately, a local band came to the rescue.

Reykjavik mayor Jón Gnarr decked out as Obi-Wan Kenobi at a political event in Reykjavik, Iceland.

No longer mayor of Reykjavik, Jón Gnarr can restart his career as a comedian. Not that he ever stopped

The man Lady Gaga called the “mayor of Iceland” is obsessed with language: the language of professional politicians, the language of satire and the restrictive rules in Iceland that prevent him from officially changing his name.The man Lady Gaga called the “mayor of Iceland” is obsessed with language: the language of professional politicians, the language of satire and the restrictive rules in Iceland that prevent him from officially changing his name.

The World

He’s a chart-topper in Iceland. But now with an English-language album out, new audiences are taking notice

Asgeir Trausti is a popular singer-songwriter in his home country, Iceland. And now, he hopes to do the same with his first English-only album and tour of the US. One of the biggest crowds he’ll be playing for will be at Bonneroo.