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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, October 19th 2025 - 10:39 UTC

Antarctica

  • Saturday, February 8th 2025 - 09:42 UTC

    Was last month the hottest ever?

    January 2025 was predominantly wetter than average, with heavy rainfall leading to flooding in some regions

    January 2025 was the hottest month ever recorded by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, which detected the planet's temperature to be 1.75 degrees Celsius (°C) above pre-industrial levels and 0.79°C above the 1991-2020 average for the month, with a surface air temperature of 13.23°C.

  • Friday, February 7th 2025 - 07:59 UTC

    Scientists discover micro plastics in Antarctica deep field camps

    A view over the Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica. Credit: Steve Gibbs, BAS

    Scientists have discovered microplastics in the snow near some of Antarctica’s deep field camps, revealing how far-reaching plastic pollution has become. While not new, it’s the first time these tiny pieces of plastic have been found in remote locations.

  • Saturday, February 1st 2025 - 08:13 UTC

    BAS studies whales and fish to protect South Georgia marine ecosystem

    Humpback whales migrate south to South Georgia. Image: Fredrik Christiansen

    British Antarctic Survey scientists on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia are working to better understand the rich marine life that inhabits the region. This month teams are focusing on two major projects: one on whales and their consumption of krill (a shrimp-like creature that’s abundant in the Southern Ocean), and another on populations of bottom-dwelling fish. Their findings will help ensure the long-term health of the region’s ocean ecosystem and support sustainable fisheries.

  • Monday, January 27th 2025 - 08:57 UTC

    Chinese researchers use six-legged robotic dogs in Antarctica mission

    Developers hope to extend the battery duration and include other safety features shortly

    Chinese researchers proudly released pictures of the six-legged robot dogs used during the ongoing Antarctic mission at the Zhongshan polar research station this past weekend. These robot dogs can carry up to 100 kilograms of tools and materials and are suitable for operations in extreme weather conditions of -40 degrees Celsius.

  • Monday, January 27th 2025 - 07:58 UTC

    Polar Medal 2025 for British Antarctic Survey staff

    Steve ‘Binky’ Stiglic-Buxton – Electronics Officer (Communications)

    Congratulations to British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff who have been awarded a Polar Medal in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List for their contributions to improving our understanding of Antarctica, through scientific or technical work in or about the Polar Regions.

  • Friday, January 24th 2025 - 21:10 UTC

    Giant iceberg approaching South Georgia stirs fears

    A23a was confirmed to be intact and 173 miles from South Georgia

    A23a, arguably the world’s largest and oldest iceberg which has been wandering through the South Atlantic and headed for the British Overseas Territory of the South Georgia Islands since last month, has been reported not to have changed course this week nor upped nor melted, thus posing a serious threat to the local fauna. Earlier this week, it was spotted 173 miles (280km) away.

  • Monday, January 20th 2025 - 05:38 UTC

    Royal Navy paid tribute to its Chilean counterpart bravery and expertise

    Baroness Chapman, “in UK we’ve all heard of Ernest Shackleton, but not enough people know about what Luis Pardo did. He’s a real hero. Many others would never have been so brave.”

    The Royal Navy paid homage to the bravery and expertise of its Chilean counterpart during a ceremony in Punta Arenas. The commander of the ship which rescued sailors from Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance has been recognized by the UK during icebreaker HMS Protector’s port stop in Chile.

  • Friday, January 17th 2025 - 08:47 UTC

    South Georgia Island, 250th Anniversary of British Possession, led by the great navigator James Cook

    The stamp issue commemorates Possession itself and the start of South Georgia’s 250-year journey from obscurity to the modern age. 

    On the 17th of January 1775, English Captain James Cook landed at Possession Bay in South Georgia Island. While his vessel HMS Resolution sat at anchor in the bay, Cook went ashore, hoisted the British flag and performed the ceremony of taking possession of the island, in the name of King George III and his heirs.

  • Wednesday, January 15th 2025 - 10:21 UTC

    Antarctica historic milestone, successful drilling of a 2.800 meters long ice core, more than 1.2 million years old

    “We have a strong indication that the uppermost 2,480 meters contain a climate record that goes back to 1.2 million years,” Julien Westhoff, chief scientist in the field at Copenhagen University

    The fourth Antarctic campaign of the Beyond EPICA-Oldest Ice project has achieved a historic milestone this week, by successfully drilling a 2800-metre-long ice core, consisting of ice from the Antarctic ice sheet which is more than 1.2 million years old.

  • Wednesday, January 15th 2025 - 09:48 UTC

    Busy cruise season for Ushuaia, 14 vessels in a week

    The main wharf of the Ushuaia Port

    A busy week for Ushuaia, extreme south of Argentina with some fourteen cruise vessels, mostly heading for Antarctica calling at the capital of Tierra del Fuego province, and involving 4,500 passengers.