Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 2h

Dr Liz Thomas joins The Climate Question on the BBC World Service to talk about ice cores. These frozen time capsules are unlocking Earth's climate history and helping predict its future.

Listen now on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct702g

#ClimateScience #IceCores

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Reposted by British Antarctic Survey 🐧

Nate Howes TWN @natetwnclimate.bsky.social · 2d

Researchers @bas.ac.uk say they've found evidence of first invasive barnacle species in Nunavut's waters--a discovery they believe results from warming waters. Arctic waters are losing thermal barrier against invasive species. @globalchangebio.bsky.social www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/natu...

Looking for clues: Researchers say first invasive barnacle found in Nunavut - The Weather Network

Opening up of the Northwest Passage increases risk of foreign species entering Arctic waters, study says

www.theweathernetwork.com

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Reposted by British Antarctic Survey 🐧

St Andrews Earth & Environmental Sciences @earthscista.bsky.social · 23h

Over the last six weeks, SEES scientists Mengwen, Patrick, Helen & Andrea jointed the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project, which aims to analyse the oldest ice on Earth – up to 1.5 million years old, beyond the 800,000 years previously covered – to understand more about Earth's climate 🧊🧪🥼 @bas.ac.uk

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 6d

Read the full story on our website: www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/a...

A historical moment: over 1.2 million years of Earth's climate history captured from an Antarctic ice core - British Antarctic Survey

Ancient ice from Antarctica, extracted as part of the Beyond EPICA – Oldest Ice project, captures a unique climate record spanning at least the past 1.2 million years.

www.bas.ac.uk

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 6d

🧊Our researchers have just finished analysing ancient Antarctic ice spanning 1.2 million years of climate history!

The Beyond EPICA project extends the ice core climate record by 400,000 years, helping us to understand long-term climate patterns and improve future predictions.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 9d

In three days, our iconic red planes will take off from Canada to make the epic journey across the world to Antarctica.

These flights mark the start of a new polar science season.

BUT ALSO that means there's three days left to send your name to Antarctica with us! tickettoantarctica.com

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 9d

It's true!

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 9d

Polar scientists meeting at @royalsociety.org
in London this week are issuing a stark warning: dramatic and extreme changes in Antarctica are happening faster than expected, with consequences that will affect everyone on the planet.

www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/a...

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 16d

They discuss Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) which equips those heading to BAS stations with the skills to live safely in Antarctica - think back to school, Antarctica edition!

🎧Listen to Iceworld now on your preferred podcast app or head to our website: www.bas.ac.uk/media/icewor...

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Iceworld Podcast - British Antarctic Survey

Out now, Training for Antarctica – secrets of the pre-deployment programme, with Michaela Boak. So, you’re going to Antarctica. But what skills and training do you need to live and …

www.bas.ac.uk

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 16d

Want to know what it takes to live and work in Antarctica? Planning and training – and lots of it. 📝💻

In this episode of Iceworld, host Nadia Frontier speaks to Michaela Boak, BAS’s Deployment Support Coordinator.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 18d

Thanks 👍

British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 18d

And… here’s the link to read the full story on our website www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/b...

Breaking barriers in the ice - British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is pioneering inclusivity in one of the world's most challenging environments - the vast, icy expanse of Antarctica. Through pioneering work on polar hygiene and br...

www.bas.ac.uk

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 18d

Our new working group is tackling hygiene challenges that were previously taboo, creating practical solutions and mandatory training for the workforce. Moving beyond the stereotype to welcome diverse talent. Because polar science needs every perspective 🧊

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 19d

🔗Read the full story on our website: www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/e...

Explore new polar maps now online! - British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has launched a new map catalogue with access to a large collection of freely available polar maps. Many of these maps were previously unavailable to the public and t...

www.bas.ac.uk

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 19d

Start exploring: access the map catalogue www.bas.ac.uk/maps

Explore new polar maps now online! - British Antarctic Survey

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has launched a new map catalogue with access to a large collection of freely available polar maps. Many of these maps were previously unavailable to the public and t...

www.bas.ac.uk

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 19d

🗺️NEW: BAS Map Catalogue is live!

Explore Antarctica and the Arctic through our collection of professional maps. Perfect for educators, adventurers, and polar enthusiasts. Many available on open licence for free download. #PolarMaps #Antarctica

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 20d

Excellent progress at Rothera Research Station! Our wintering team has completed interior work on the Discovery Building. The new facility will be formally handed over this summer season. #AntarcticScience #PolarResearch

🔗 www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/1...

17 September 2025: Postcard from Rothera Research Station - British Antarctic Survey

The teams have been busy over the past few months during the Antarctic winter to complete crucial infrastructure improvements. Here is a run-down of some of the progress on Rothera Research Station's ...

www.bas.ac.uk

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 21d

Fantastic achievement @magic.bas.ac.uk 🎉👏 These awards are well-deserved recognition of the vital role accurate mapping plays in understanding our changing polar regions. Congratulations and well done!

Mapping and Geographic Information Centre @magic.bas.ac.uk · 27d

We're very happy to share that three of our maps received awards at the @bcsmaps.bsky.social Annual Conference last week! Our Alexander Island and Bedmap3 maps were recognised in the Printed Mapping category, and our Ice Logistics Portal (www.icelogistics.info) in the Electronic Mapping category 🏆🎉

2 members of MAGIC are stood in front of a large geological map (William Smith's map) covering England, Wales and part of Scotland. The people are holding three certificates.

A photo showing some of the maps that were entered into the awards. Our topographic map of Alexander Island can be seen at the front left of the image, and Bedmap3 can be seen at the back right.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 22d

Hope you took in that bit about the ecosystems monitoring we do at King Edward Point Research Station while you were enjoying your penguin and iceberg content!

Here's a few more chinstraps for the road.

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Video of a hoarde of chinstrap penguins on an iceberg, stained with brown-pink guano.

Taken over the side of an iceberg ridge, a group of penguins peek over the ledge of the ice.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 22d

But LUCKILY there was a nice safe 1km gap between bergs that allowed them to navigate on, safely along the planned transect route.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 22d

MEANWHILE the once-giant A23a has been breaking up near South Georgia. This Antarctic berg was originally the size of Cornwall.

Their transect route was very close to a huge 10-mile-wide fragment.

You can see these enormous bits of berg from space!

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A satellite image of South Georgia island, above which are many shattered pieces of what was a huge iceberg. The largest of these pieces is around 1/4 the size of the whole island: they are clearly visible from space.

View out from the ship shows the iceberg A23a filling the whole horizon.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 22d

The team set out to monitor local krill and whale numbers.

It’s known as the ECHO Survey, because they use an echosounder to build up a picture of the local population.

This all helps Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands manage demand for fishing licences in the region.

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A person in a red sea survival suit looks out from the side of the Pharos SG, a small fisheries patrol boat. The sky is purple in the rising sun and the snowy mountains of South Georgia run along the skyline in the distance.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 22d

Imagine having to sail around bits of the largest iceberg in the world to do your job 😲

BAS marine biologists Katie Wells and Rhi Nichol were sailing out near South Georgia, and got an amazing view of the fragmenting #A23a iceberg!

They also spotted 250 chinstrap penguins enjoying the ice.

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 22d

Happy #WorldOzoneDay 🌍

On this day in 1987, the Montreal Protocol was signed. It was a day when we reckoned with the damage done to our planet, and then took action.

Pretty good inspo for today, we think.

But did you know that the hole in the ozone layer was detected at Halley Research Station? ⬇️

Montreal Protocol Ozone Secretariat @unepozone.bsky.social · Sep 2

You can't protect what you don't measure.

@bas.ac.uk's Jonathan Shanklin explains why long-term monitoring still matters for the ozone layer and for the planet.

#MontrealProtocol #OzoneLayer

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British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 28d

The path forward for climate and geoengineering requires:

✅ Maintained focus on decarbonisation + clean energy
✅ Continued scientific research to understand all options
✅ Transparent, inclusive debate about emerging technologies

Read more about this on the BAS website:
ow.ly/Eq8a50WU2QY

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Review suggests polar geoengineering ideas could do more harm than good   - British Antarctic Survey

Well-publicised geoengineering ideas are highly unlikely to help the polar regions and could harm ecosystems, communities, international relations, and our chances of reaching net zero by 2050. This i...

ow.ly

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