Iceland

A five-year trial in Iceland exploring the effects of a shorter working week is reporting positive outcomes. The results suggest cutting just four or five hours from a work week can lead to increases in worker well-being and improvements in productivity.

Visitors to Iceland will soon be able to take a dip in a new geothermal lagoon. The under-construction Sky Lagoon will provide amenities like a sauna, bar, and cold water pools – but the big draw with this one is going to be its amazing ocean views.

The Earth’s magnetic field is currently weakening, and there’s been a lot of talk in recent years that a reversal might be imminent. Now a new study has looked at the history of these events and found that a reversal probably isn’t about to happen.

​​These days, there are some pretty special places to sit back and take in the nature's most spectacular light show. Among those near Iceland's capital of Reykjavík is the Panorama Glass Lodge that gives guests a glimpse of the aurora borealis across a shimmering fjord.​

A teardrop with some top-of-world flair, the Mink trailer offers a warm, cozy rolling home for those looking to explore Iceland's rippled glaciers, explosive geysers and steamy hot springs. Lie down in the Mink cabin and enjoy views of the northern lights through the generously sized skylight above.

While Amazon and other companies are busy navigating through the red tape required to get drones buzzing through the urban skies with their pizza payloads, the Icelandic city of Reykjavik has become the first in the world to be served by commercial delivery flights.

New types of bacteria have been found in one of the most alien environments on Earth: a subglacial lake buried beneath almost a thousand feet of ice. Conditions could be strikingly similar to oceans of Europa or Enceladus, so studying these organisms could aid the search for extraterrestrial life.

A new world record for the highest wave has been recorded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In the freezing, turbulent waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, somewhere between Iceland and the UK, an automated buoy detected a significant wave height of 19 m (62.3 ft).

​Driving along the "Ring Road" that encircles the Iceland, it's easy to feel as though you've traveled back in time and are witnessing the Earth as it was when it was just getting started. In many ways that's actually the case​ and New Atlas checked out some of the science behind the sites.

A new method of carbon sequestration could seriously fast-track the process. Injecting carbon dioxide into volcanic rocks was found to turn the gas into a solid within two years, which is a much shorter timeframe than the centuries or millennia that the current consensus suggests.​

Float unsurprisingly helps you to float. The obviously-named product is designed to aid water therapy by keeping the person wearing it upright and floating in a naturally relaxing position. At $135 it's a lot more affordable than even the cheapest isolation tank.

While the use of geothermal energy and recycled materials would normally be starting points for Gizmag's look at a new holiday destination like the ION Adventure Hotel, there's one element here that stands well above the pack – location.