Carbon in an ice world
By 
Victoria Atkinson2025-07-07T08:54:00
Antarctica may seem pristine and almost devoid of life, but there’s plenty of chemistry going on. Victoria Atkinson explains what it can tell us about the climate and pollution across the globe
Antarctica is often described as the last untouched place on Earth. First sighted in 1820, the ‘International Continent’ is now a protected area for collaborative scientific study, acting as a bellwether for the health of the planet. Early explorers began establishing research bases over 100 years ago and today there are more than 70 permanent stations scattered across the continent.
In the barren icy landscape of Antarctica, it’s easy to dismiss the significance of organic chemistry. But despite the remoteness of the continent, exacerbated by its isolating circumpolar current, even trace compounds released elsewhere on the globe make their way to the Antarctic one way or another.