• 2 Dec 2025

    Southern Annular Mode in most positive state in 1,000 years, review finds.

    A new scientific review has revealed that the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), the Southern Hemisphere’s most influential climate driver, is now in its most positive state in over 1,000 years….
  • 2 Dec 2025

    Temperatures in a patch of Antarctic moss can vary as much as an entire mountain  range

    Krystal Randall If you were to wander along the parts of Antarctica that are ice-free, you might be surprised to see something soft and luxurious growing right at your feet:…
  • 18 Sep 2025

    The Chemistry of Antarctic Lakes

    A new study, led by SAEF researcher Dr Liza McDonough from ANSTO, has sought to understand the organic molecules in five lakes around Casey Station in Antarctica.
  • 9 Sep 2025

    Geoengineering is not the solution to limiting climate impacts in polar regions

    Five of the most-publicized polar geoengineering ideas are highly unlikely to help the polar regions and could harm ecosystems, international relations, and reduce our chances of reaching net zero by…
  • 19 Aug 2025

    Antarctic neighbourhood watch: Protecting ecosystems through expanded monitoring

    Imagine a scientist offered you a ticket to Antarctica on the proviso you helped count penguins. Would you do it for the rare chance to see (and smell) a penguin…
  • 15 Aug 2025

    Threats on the horizon: Emerging challenges to Antarctic conservation

    SAEF scientists identify emerging challenges to Antarctic conservation and highlight opportunities to reassess and strengthen mechanisms within Antarctic governance to help secure the region.
  • 6 Aug 2025

    New Antarctic Vegetation Mapping Method Combines Drones, AI and Hyperspectral Imaging

    An interdisciplinary team of SAEF researchers has developed a new way to map moss and lichen in Antarctica with unprecedented precision—in a way that is quick, cost-effective and won’t disturb…
  • 4 Aug 2025

    New maps show Heard Island glaciers are retreating faster—and offer guidance for their protection

    Heard Island recently made headlines when US President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on it and the nearby McDonald Islands—despite no trade occurring there and no human visits to…
  • 16 Jul 2025

    Bird Uniqueness Increases the Further South You Travel

    SAEF scientists have revealed that bird uniqueness increases the closer you get to Antarctica. The ground-breaking discovery demonstrates that endemism (when a species is unique to a location and found…
  • 2 Jul 2025

    A flatworm’s spread threatens the delicate balance of Macquarie Island

    New research provides insights into how an invasive predator is spreading and altering ecosystems to help inform conservation efforts.
  • 18 Jun 2025

    As Antarctic sea ice vanishes, algae threaten to outcompete seafloor life

    New modelling suggests that the balance between algae and invertebrates is shifting, with the potential to alter these ecosystems in profound and irreversible ways.