We want to share news about our research and operational activities with as many people as possible around the world. We write and issue press releases and news stories. Browse our latest news here. If you are a journalist and would like to be added to our news distribution list please contact our Press Office.
Found 1408 items
4 January, 2012
Communities of species previously unknown to science have been discovered on the seafloor near Antarctica, clustered in the hot, dark environment surrounding hydrothermal vents. The discoveries, made by teams led …
22 December, 2011
New research shows how much food is needed by seabirds An international group of scientists has shown that many seabirds begin to suffer when the food available for them in …
22 December, 2011
As you get stuck into your turkey on Christmas Day, spare a thought for scientists working in Antarctica for British Antarctic Survey, where Christmas is just another working day. Around …
14 December, 2011
One century ago today, on 14th December 1911, Norwegian Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the geographical South Pole. He led a party of five men, with four …
5 December, 2011
Scientist on BBC Frozen Planet investigates how world’s largest glacier is contributing to sea-level rise A team of scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is to survey the largest glacier …
5 December, 2011
Scientists at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have produced the most detailed map of underneath Antarctica — its rock bed. BEDMAP is a close-up view of the landscape beneath the Antarctic …
Read more on New map reveals what lies beneath the frozen continent
30 November, 2011
The Royal Navy’s new ice patrol ship, HMS Protector, left Portsmouth earlier this week (Monday 28 November) for an eight-month deployment surveying and patrolling the seas around Antarctica. The 5,000 …
Read more on New Ice Patrol ship HMS Protector heads for the frozen south
30 November, 2011
Antarctica Day was inaugurated in 2010 to celebrate the 1st December 1959 signature of the Antarctic Treaty, which was adopted “with the interests of science and the progress of all …
29 November, 2011
One hundred years ago, Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team set off for the South Pole as part of the Terra Nova Expedition. This was a scientific mission to …
21 November, 2011
On the eve of the centenary of Sir Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition to the Antarctic, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) 20011/12 field season is underway. The start of the season …
Read more on Antarctic field season kicks off for Centennial Year
21 November, 2011
The rights to produce and market innovative bird-tracking devices developed by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has been granted to UK company Biotrack as part of a technology transfer agreement. The …
Read more on British Antarctic Survey licenses bird tracker technology to Biotrack
16 November, 2011
Gamburtsev Mountains enigma unraveled in interior East Antarctica The birth of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains buried beneath the vast East Antarctic Ice Sheet — a puzzle mystifying scientists since their …
15 November, 2011
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 16 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores autumn in the polar regions. As life cools down in the Antarctic, …
7 November, 2011
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 9 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Summer in the Polar Regions. As life thrives in the Antarctic, viewers …
31 October, 2011
This week on Frozen Planet (BBC1 Wednesday 2 November at 21.00, repeated Sunday at 16.10) the programme explores Spring in the Polar Regions and how life begins the race to …
28 October, 2011
BAS biologist Dr Lloyd Peck and ice core scientist Dr Robert Mulvaney featured in the ‘Secret Life of Ice’ on BBC 4 (TV) this week. Ice is one of the …
21 October, 2011
Ice experts from agencies from nine countries this week issued a statement urging marine and shipping companies operating in the region of the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route …
20 October, 2011
Series starts Wednesday 26 October, BBC1 at 9.00pm, repeated on Sundays at 4.10pm. Embark on the trip of a lifetime, as the award-winning BBC team behind Planet Earth takes you …
Read more on BBC Frozen Planet: the Poles like you’ve never seen them before…
18 October, 2011
Marking the end of the Rothera winter, Rothera had its first visitors since the departure of the Ernest Shackleton in March. On Tuesday a Kenn Borek Air (KBA) Twin Otter …
Read more on End of the Rothera winter and arrival of the first aircraft
14 October, 2011
The Advance Party from a team of 10 scientists and engineers planning to drill through 3km of ice in to an ancient hidden lake has begun its long journey from …
Read more on British Antarctic Survey engineers set off to explore the unknown
11 October, 2011
British Antarctic Survey engineering team heads to Antarctica to explore hidden lake Next week a British engineering team from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) heads off to Antarctica for the first …
25 September, 2011
A rapid increase in the frequency of icebergs pounding the shallow seafloor around the West Antarctic Peninsula — as a result of shrinking winter sea ice — has caused the …
Read more on Climate change affects marine animals on Antarctica’s seabed
16 September, 2011
New documentary examines the status of the Ozone Hole on the anniversary of the Montreal Protocol – a global agreement banning ozone depleting substances It’s over 25 years since British …
Read more on International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer (Ozone Day) – 16 September
9 September, 2011
An international team of scientists, led by Dr Stephen Barker of Cardiff University, has produced a prediction of what climate records from Greenland might look like over the last 800,000 …
4 August, 2011
Staff at British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station recently raised the Union flag to mark the first sighting of the sun again after several weeks of continual darkness. The sun …
Read more on Raising the flag to celebrate the return of the sun
4 August, 2011
Amelia Marks, from Royal Holloway University in the UK, has been awarded the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) Research Fellowship 2011/2012. The Fellowship, worth up to US$15,000, …
Read more on Antarctic Organisation Announces Fellowship Recipient
25 July, 2011
Dr. José Xavier, a marine ecologist at the Institute of Marine Research of the University of Coimbra in Portugal and the British Antarctic Survey in UK, has been awarded the …
Read more on 2011 Martha T. Muse Prize awarded to BAS marine ecologist Dr José Xavier
15 July, 2011
Scientists from British Antarctic Survey and institutes around the world discuss ‘what lies beneath the ice’ at the International Symposium of Antarctic Earth Sciences in Edinburgh today (Friday 15 July). …
Read more on What lies beneath? Scientists discuss Antarctica’s hidden mountains
13 July, 2011
Antarctic geoscientists and ice sheet modellers get together in Edinburgh this week to investigate ways to improve predictions of likely sea-level rise as a result of future ice loss from …
Read more on Antarctic researchers strive to make better predictions for future sea-level rise
11 July, 2011
Underwater Antarctic volcanoes discovered in the Southern Ocean Scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have discovered previously unknown volcanoes in the ocean waters around the remote South Sandwich Islands. Using …
11 July, 2011
BAS scientists are participating in the prestigious International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES) in Edinburgh this week (11–15 July). Over 500 experts in the fields of geology and glaciology …
Read more on International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES) 2011
4 July, 2011
Antarctic krill help to fertilise Southern Ocean with iron A new discovery reveals that the shrimp-like creature at the heart of the Antarctic food chain could play a key role …
27 June, 2011
Warm ocean speeds melting of Antarctic glacier New results from an investigation into a large glacier in Antarctica and its impact on global sea level rise are published this week …
23 June, 2011
Exactly fifty years ago today (23 June 1961) the Antarctic Treaty came into force dedicating Antarctica for ‘peace and science’. The treaty regulates international relations for Antarctica – Earth’s only …
Read more on 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty coming into force
21 June, 2011
Staff at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) celebrate Midwinter’s Day today. Celebrated as the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, Midwinter’s day is the shortest and darkest day for the …
13 June, 2011
New discovery – Copepods share “diver’s weight belt” technique with whales A deep-sea mystery has been solved with the discovery that the tiny 3 mm long marine animals, eaten by …
24 May, 2011
Study reveals most biologically rich island in Southern Ocean The first comprehensive study of sea creatures around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia reveals a region that is richer in …
13 May, 2011
A memorial monument dedicated to Britons who lost their lives in the service of science in Antarctica was unveiled in Cambridge on 12 May 2011. The monument – an arc …
Read more on Monument in memory of Britons lost in Antarctica unveiled
10 May, 2011
Every year the Laws Prize Committee, chaired by Professor John Croxall CBE FRS, tries to select the most outstanding young scientist at the British Antarctic Survey. This year the choice …
Read more on 2011 Laws Prizes awarded to young BAS scientists
10 May, 2011
Two memorials dedicated to Britons who lost their lives in the service of science in Antarctica are unveiled this week. Since 1948, a total of 29 people have died in …
9 May, 2011
This year we almost had an ozone hole over Cambridge. Normally the Arctic ozone layer is about 10° warmer than that over the Antarctic, and this means that polar stratospheric …
6 May, 2011
Since August 2010, Dr Emily Shuckburgh, Head of British Antarctic Survey’s Open Oceans research group, has been working two days per week at the Department of Energy and Climate Change …
5 May, 2011
The annual Lyme Regis Fossil Festival took place last weekend (29 Apr – 1 May) with the theme ‘Marine Parade’ – celebrating the area’s marine fossil heritage. The festival included …
Read more on British Antarctic Survey at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival
20 April, 2011
British Antarctic Survey scientist Professor Richard Horne has been made a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). This title is only awarded once a year to one in a …
Read more on Professor Richard Horne made Fellow of the American Geophysical Union
19 April, 2011
In the first of a two-part interview published on SciencePoles, the scientific website of the International Polar Foundation, British Antarctic Survey glaciologist Professor David Vaughan talks about the ice2sea project, …
Read more on ice2sea: Providing the IPCC with sea-level rise projections
31 March, 2011
One plant species that grows in Antarctica appears to be thriving according to a team of UK scientists. Antarctic Hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica) is more effective at absorbing organic nitrogen from …
29 March, 2011
Major EU-funded space weather initiative launched and managed in UK A major EU-funded initiative to improve ‘space weather’ forecasting will hold its inaugural meeting in the UK on Tuesday 29 …
10 March, 2011
Scientists at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have recently described the loss of a small colony of emperor penguins on an island off the West Antarctic Peninsula. The loss is attributed …
Read more on First Recorded Loss of an Emperor Penguin Colony
3 March, 2011
Ice structures found among hidden Antarctic mountains The discovery of numerous large ice structures within Antarctica’s Dome A region, the site of the buried ‘ghost mountains’, reveals new understanding about …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: New discovery from “ghost mountains”
2 March, 2011
British Antarctic Survey remote sensing expert Andrew Fleming is part of a new European project to aid ships’ navigation in ice-infested waters in the European Arctic and the Baltic Sea …
Read more on New Arctic sea-ice information service established
23 February, 2011
Recent increases in solar activity, including the largest solar flare in four years, lead to hopes of seeing the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, in the UK. …
23 February, 2011
Since August 2010, Dr Emily Shuckburgh, Head of British Antarctic Survey’s Open Oceans research group, has been working two days per week at the Department of Energy and Climate Change …
22 February, 2011
Captain Scott’s century-old collections suggest marine life is capturing more carbon Tiny Antarctic marine creatures collected 100 years ago by Antarctic explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott give new clues about …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Growing evidence of carbon impact
11 February, 2011
On Saturday 19th March, BAS will be holding two displays at the annual Cambridge Science Festival. One display will be at the Department of Chemistry called “Climate change and atmosphere …
Read more on British Antarctic Survey at the Cambridge Science Festival
2 February, 2011
Penguin mania is set to sweep London this year as the SEA LIFE London Aquarium announces a major new area featuring a family of gentoo penguins will open in spring. …
Read more on The Antarctic comes to London in SEA LIFE London Aquarium’s new penguin experience
28 January, 2011
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Chief Scientific Adviser David Clary visited Rothera Research Station in January to gain an understanding of the importance and breadth of BAS’s science programme …
27 January, 2011
British Antarctic Survey oceanographer Dr Emily Shuckburgh will be featured on ‘Costing the Earth’ on BBC Radio Four at 9.00pm on Wednesday 2nd February. In 2010 the Canadian Arctic experienced …
25 January, 2011
British Antarctic Survey is working with Lancaster University to understand how particles from space affect the Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists aim to find out more about so-called “killer electrons” in the …
13 January, 2011
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) will support a team of scientists from the Universities of Leeds and Aberystwyth as they embark on an ambitious three-month Antarctic expedition. Their fieldwork aims to …
5 January, 2011
One of Britain’s best known seabirds winters on opposite sides of the Atlantic depending on whether its breeding attempt has been successful, according to new research published today in the …
Read more on Kittiwakes’ trans-Atlantic winter odyssey linked to breeding success
23 November, 2010
On 30th November 2010 scientists aboard the RRS James Cook will be leaving Punta Arenas, Chile to study the movement of water in the Southern Ocean — from the surface …
Read more on Climate change clues in the rough seas of the Southern Ocean
21 November, 2010
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions — the main contributor to global warming — show no sign of abating and may reach record levels in 2010, according to a study led …
5 November, 2010
In 2009 artist Chris Dobrowolski visited Antarctica on the British Antarctic Survey Artists and Writers Programme. Since his return he has been performing his one-man show at venues across the …
Read more on Antarctic Artist performs in London and Nottingham
1 November, 2010
Professor David Vaughan of the British Antarctic Survey joins a panel of renowned scientists and environmentalists in London this week (3 November). He will be speaking at a conference for …
Read more on David Vaughan joins ‘Leaders Preserving Our Future’ conference panel
20 October, 2010
New space research settles years of scientific debate New space research published this week (Thursday 21 October) in the journal Nature, has settled decades of scientific debate. Researchers from the …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: New research sheds light on Aurora
14 October, 2010
The British Museum and BBC Radio 4 today revealed the winner of ‘The History of the World in 100 objects’ — a solar-powered lamp and charger. British Antarctic Survey’s clothing …
4 October, 2010
Event: A Decade of Discovery: Census of Marine Life — News Conference Venue: Royal Institution, London Date: Monday 4 October: 12.30 – 16.30 Findings from a major international investigation into …
21 September, 2010
Professor Paul Rodhouse, biological oceanographer with the British Antarctic Survey, has been appointed to the Science and Innovation Strategy Board (SISB) of the Natural Environment Research Council. SISB is responsible …
Read more on Paul Rodhouse appointed to Science Innovation and Strategy Board
20 September, 2010
Date and venue Friday 22 October 2010; 11am – 5pm Royal Statistical Society 12 Errol St London EC1Y 8LX Map of venue Meeting summary This event is being held in …
Read more on Complexity and Statistics: Tipping Points and Crashes Meeting – Friday 22 October 2010
31 August, 2010
Marine animals suggest evidence for a trans-Antarctic seaway A tiny marine filter-feeder, that anchors itself to the sea bed, offers new clues to scientists studying the stability of the West …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: How marine animals crossed continent
23 August, 2010
A South Georgia Town Meeting takes place at British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge on 28 September 2010. The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) seeks to …
10 August, 2010
British Antarctic Survey ranked 9th in a survey of 303 British institutions which have produced the most influential papers of the last ten years in the category of environmental sciences …
Read more on BAS ranked in top ten British institutions in environment and ecology
2 August, 2010
Greenland Ice Core Team Reaches Bedrock Bedrock has been reached Tuesday July 27 2010 at the deep ice core drilling site North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling (NEEM) on the Greenland …
30 July, 2010
Most scientists think that fluctuations in ocean circulation are linked to changes in climate. Now they’ve found evidence that links those fluctuations to the kind of temperature increases that can …
26 July, 2010
Scientists at York University in Canada have used miniaturised geolocators developed at British Antarctic Survey to track wood thrushes during their autumn migration. The birds travel from Pennsylvania in the …
Read more on BAS geolocators used to monitor wood thrush migrations
23 July, 2010
During the SCAR Open Science Conference in Buenos Aires from 30th July to 11th August this year, the SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research will be awarded to Dr. …
Read more on Dr. John Turner awarded SCAR Medal for Excellence in Antarctic Research
20 June, 2010
New research sheds light on Antarctica”s melting Pine Island Glacier New results from an investigation into Antarctica’s potential contribution to sea level rise are reported this week (Sunday 20 June) …
4 June, 2010
Drilling into the unknown – the first exploration of a sub-glacial Antarctic lake is a major step closer Scientists have located the ideal drill site for the first ever exploration …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Submerged lake drill site chosen
24 May, 2010
British Antarctic Survey is delighted to announce the election of one of its leading climate scientists, Dr Eric Wolff, to the Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS). Selected for his …
Read more on Dr Eric Wolff elected as Fellow of the Royal Society
5 May, 2010
25th Anniversary of the Discovery of Ozone Hole This week British Antarctic Survey (BAS) commemorates the 25th anniversary of one of its most dramatic scientific discoveries — the ozone hole. …
30 April, 2010
Dr Fausto Ferraccioli, Geophysicist at British Antarctic Survey, has been presented with a Polar Medal by HRH Prince Philip for his continued dedication to science in the Polar Regions. The …
Read more on Fausto Ferraccioli Awarded Polar Medal for Dedication to Science
18 February, 2010
Understanding global climate change through new breakthroughs in Polar research The latest findings from research on Antarctica’s rich marine life are presented this week at the American Association for the …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Diversity of marine species detailed
16 February, 2010
There is a distinctly cosmopolitan feel around British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station this month (February). Science teams from eight countries enjoyed Rothera’s hospitality as they passed through on their …
8 February, 2010
The Polar Medal was awarded to three members of staff in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Congratulations go to Geophysicist Rob Larter, Chief Pilot Alan Meredith and former Personnel …
8 February, 2010
The open first meeting of the EC Framework 7-funded research programme ice2sea takes place in Krakow, Poland on the 17th & 18th March. A five-year project, involving scientists from 24 …
Read more on First open meeting for EC-funded sea-level rise project
8 February, 2010
As the Antarctic field season continues with the usual mix of exciting research programmes new enhancements to the online satellite image system that improves ship safety and efficiency are launched. …
12 January, 2010
Arctic terns confirmed to have the longest animal migration in the world New information on bird migration is revealed by an international team of scientists who have confirmed that the …
11 January, 2010
New research sheds light on Earth”s coldest temperatures Results from the first detailed analysis of the lowest ever temperature recorded on the Earth’s surface can explain why it got so …
17 December, 2009
New photographs of ice fish, octopus, sea pigs, giant sea spiders, rare rays and beautiful basket stars that live in Antarctica’s continental shelf seas are revealed this week by the …
Read more on New pictures reveal rich Antarctic marine life in area of rapid climate change
8 December, 2009
British Antarctic Survey achieves registration for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has achieved registration for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO). Following …
1 December, 2009
The first comprehensive review of the state of Antarctica’s climate and its relationship to the global climate system is published this week (Tuesday 1 December) by the Scientific Committee on …
23 November, 2009
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) launches its new science strategy — Polar Science for Planet Earth — this week (Monday 23 November) at its offices in Cambridge. The new science strategy …
Read more on British Antarctic Survey launches new science programme
20 November, 2009
A UK Antarctic Bill will be announced in the Queen’s Speech to Parliament today. The Draft Antarctic Bill seeks to further improve the environmental protection and governance of Antarctica, amending …
20 November, 2009
A UK proposal for the designation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) covering a large area of the Southern Ocean in the British Antarctic Territory, south of the South Orkney …
18 November, 2009
Mysteriously warm times in Antarctica A new study of Antarctica’s past climate reveals that temperatures during the warm periods between ice ages (interglacials) may have been higher than previously thought. …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Warmer spells detected in ice cores
17 November, 2009
Fossil fuel CO2 emissions up by 29 per cent since 2000 The strongest evidence yet that the rise in atmospheric CO2 emissions continues to outstrip the ability of the world’s …
9 November, 2009
Antarctica glacier retreat creates new carbon dioxide store Large blooms of tiny marine plants called phytoplankton are flourishing in areas of open water left exposed by the recent and rapid …
Read more on PRESS RELEASE: Carbon sinks created by glacier retreat
6 November, 2009
A conference to explore potential biotech development using a unique collection of Antarctic microorganisms takes place in Cambridge on 19 November 2009. The world-leading British Antarctic Survey (BAS), together with …
27 October, 2009
Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey and the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, have shown that high energy charged particles that are usually trapped in the Earth’s magnetic …
Read more on Geomagnetic storm analysis to improve chemistry climate models