Bizarre new form of ice might be “true glassy state” of water

Ice and water might not seem very exciting to most of us, but they’re actually super strange from a scientific standpoint. Researchers have now discovered a brand new type of ice that’s described as being a true “snapshot” of water, and may be found on… Continue reading Bizarre new form of ice might be “true glassy state” of water

Sweden’s 33rd annual Icehotel showcases incredible frozen art

In most hotels, if the temperature dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) inside the room, there would be complaints made to the front desk, but that’s the whole point of the Icehotel in northern Sweden. The annual attraction is now open and offers a chilly experien… Continue reading Sweden’s 33rd annual Icehotel showcases incredible frozen art

Ice Straw fights plastic problem and keeps drinks cool at the same time

Plastic straws have become the poster child of waste lately, and most alternatives have their own issues. Now, a start-up called The Ice Guys is crowdfunding an intriguing solution that fights the plastic straw boogeyman and keeps your drinks cool at t… Continue reading Ice Straw fights plastic problem and keeps drinks cool at the same time

Strongest Arctic cyclone on record wreaks havoc on vulnerable sea ice

In addition to rising air temperatures and warming waters, Arctic sea ice also has hostile weather conditions to contend with, and new analysis of an extreme event earlier this year suggests it may be more vulnerable to these than we thought. Scientist… Continue reading Strongest Arctic cyclone on record wreaks havoc on vulnerable sea ice

Antarctica may be hiding thriving plankton blooms beneath its sea ice

Antarctica isn’t exactly the type of place you’d expect to be teeming with life, but a new study suggests the frigid environment at the end of the world may be a little more hospitable than it seems. Scientists studying sea ice in the region’s Southern… Continue reading Antarctica may be hiding thriving plankton blooms beneath its sea ice

The modern satellites shaping the course of climate science

The Soviet Union launched the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957, placing the first human-made object in space. Fast forward to 2022, and we are now launching more than a thousand satellites into space each year, improving our weather forecasts, boosting our … Continue reading The modern satellites shaping the course of climate science

460-km-long river discovered snaking though base of Antarctic ice sheet

Among the many mechanisms shaping the Antarctic ice sheet are the processes playing out in its lower layers, and a newly discovered sub-glacial river suggests it may drain away faster than we thought. Scientists say the 460-km-long (285-mile) river sho… Continue reading 460-km-long river discovered snaking though base of Antarctic ice sheet

High-strength coating controls crack formation to keep surfaces ice-free

Keeping airplane wings ice-free is critical to flight safety, but it’s not the easiest of problems to solve. De-icing solutions with heavy chemicals that are sprayed onto aircraft ahead of take-off can keep the wing surfaces clean and functional, but t… Continue reading High-strength coating controls crack formation to keep surfaces ice-free

Greenland ice melt has already locked in 10 inches of sea level rise

As scientists sharpen their observational tools and more data comes to light, our view of the changes gripping our planet is only becoming clearer, and it’s not a pretty sight. A striking new example of this has come from glaciologists studying the sea… Continue reading Greenland ice melt has already locked in 10 inches of sea level rise