New Study Questions Franklin Expedition Lead Poisoning Theory

Was the Franklin Expedition doomed by its badly canned food? Or did the men succumb to a combination of unfortunate factors? A new study asserts that all 129 British sailors on the fated expedition died from a “marvelously catastrophic” mix of causes—and lead poisoning was just one of them. Professors Keith Millar and Adrian Bowman …

Court Deals Blow to Arctic Drilling Plans

The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled on January 22 that the Department of the Interior illegally sold offshore oil and gas leases in the Chukchi Sea, off the northwest coast of Alaska. The court found that the government had failed to adequately evaluate the impacts of drilling—and inevitable mishaps—in the Arctic environment. …

Polar Science and Art Meet in “Vanishing Ice”

A current exhibit—that I wish I could see for myself—at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham, Wa. explores my favorite subject: the intersection of art, polar science and the history of exploration. Vanishing Ice: Alpine and Polar Landscapes in Art, 1775-2012, is on view through March 2. “First and foremost, this show is a tribute to …

Bowheads May Bear Brunt of Energy Exploration in the Arctic

Just-published report reveals that oil and gas and shipping activity is on collision course with whale habitat   The World Wildlife Fund (Canada) has published a paper in the journal Marine Policy that reveals the extensive overlap of areas targeted for Arctic energy development with the habitat of the endangered bowhead whale. Reported by the …

Ellis Island Museum Reopens, One Year after Hurricane Sandy

Artifacts remain in Maryland while repairs continue Ellis Island Immigration Museum, part of Statue of Liberty National Monument, will reopen to the public today for the first time since Hurricane Sandy submerged the island a year ago. Visitors will once again walk the halls of the former federal immigration processing station, which handled more than …