Polar

Scientists have discovered a genetically distinct subpopulation of polar bears that has adapted to survive on glacier slush instead of sea ice for large parts of the year, boding well for adaptability of the species.

Norway-based marine group Ulstein has introduced Thor, its concept design for a 149-m (489-ft) replenishment, research and rescue (3R) ship powered by a thorium Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) that can be used to recharge battery-driven cruise ships at sea.

With the launch of the Pacer Pro, Polar is aiming to give dedicated runners all the tech needed to plan, track and analyze their training sessions in a lightweight, wrist-worn package that benefits from powerful processing and long battery life.

If you were planning to drive in Antarctica, you probably wouldn't plan on doing so in a vintage sports coupe. But you're not Renee Brinkerhoff, the racer looking to finish a 7-continent voyage by power-sledding across Antarctica in a Porsche 356A.

In April 2020, Polar launched a wearable designed for adventurous folks who like to explore off the beaten track, and take a suitably rugged smartwatch along for the trip. Now a more capable Pro version joins the Grit X outdoors sportswatch lineup.

The all-electric Venturi Antarctica has been evolving for over a decade, preparing to tackle the harsh weather and terrain of Antarctica. The extreme EV enters its third iteration this month as it prepares to embark on its grand Antarctic mission.

The Grit X is the most advanced smartwatch that Polar has put out yet, firmly aimed at those who need their wearables to go above and beyond the norm, and don't mind paying for it – though the watch still comes in at a reasonable price.

The British Antarctic Survey's (BAS) polar research vessel RSS Sir David Attenborough came a step closer to going into service this week as its power systems came online for the first time and its advanced lifeboats were commissioned.

Venturi Automobiles has made a name for itself blazing electric-vehicle trails over hot salt and hot race track, but it's about to crank down the temperature. It has revealed its all-electric Antarctica polar exploration vehicle and is preparing to bring it down to the world's loneliest continent.

NASA is preparing to launch a new tool into orbit that will bounce lasers off polar ice to finely monitor elevation changes over time, providing new insights into not only the severity of climate change, but how it is directly impacting seal level rise. ​

A fitness tracker is the perfect gift for the holiday season, for treating someone else or treating yourself – what better way to start tackling your New Year resolutions? These are the best fitness trackers we've seen launched this year, as wearables get smarter, smaller, and more diverse.

Polar is seriously old-school in the fitness tracking market, having launched a wireless, wearable heart rate monitor back in 1982. Now the company is diving into the smartwatch world with an Android Wear watch boasting its latest proprietary optical pulse monitoring tech and on-board GPS.