Posts in Posts About Polar


Book Cover - Polar Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth by L.E. Carmichael

Happy Antarctica Day: Fun Facts and Recommended Reading

I'll be honest: I have no idea how it's even December already, so today's post celebrating Antarctica is a little less polished and a little more... random. We'll start with a couple fun facts leftover from Polar research, and ... Read More  

The Marathon Migrations of Arctic Terns (Revisited)

Hold on, you're saying to yourself, I think I've read this post before... You're not wrong! There are TWO World Migratory Bird Days every year, because - surprise! - migration is a round trip. At least, that's how we ... Read More  

The Coolest Habitat On the Planet

One reason Antarctica is so unique is because it's been isolated from the rest of the planet for about 20 million years: ever since the Antarctic Circumpolar Current formed. The ACC - you guessed it - is an ocean ... Read More  

Tipping Towards Fall: The Autumnal Equinox

Science Literacy Week is almost over – almost, but not quite! There’s still time to get some free science-y goodness in your life, so hop on over to the Science Literacy Week website to learn about last-minute events happening ... Read More  

An Ode To Sea Ice – And The Incredible Creatures That Call It Home

It's Arctic Sea Ice Day, which means the internet is about to be covered in polar bears. Don't get me wrong - polar bears are awesome, and I would dearly love to snuggle me a bear cub, because they ... Read More  

Happy Solstice, Everyone!

Hi all! This post was scheduled to publish while I was away on a well-earned holiday. I returned to discover that the tech gods were also on holiday that week. Oh well, better late than never. It’s International Day ... Read More  

For World Oceans Day: Sleepy Seals and Greenland Sharks

I am so glad that World Oceans Day is finally here! I’ve been holding on to some truly AMAZING ocean info – info we cut from Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth due to concerns it was ... Read More  

World Environment Day and the Problem of Polar Pollution

When I started research for Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth, I knew that Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to climate change. I didn’t know that they are also particularly vulnerable to pollution. It’s World ... Read More  

The Marathon Migrations of Arctic Terns

Today is World Migratory Bird Day, making it the perfect day to talk about terns - the champion migrators of the biological world. Adult terns weigh about 100 g, and every year, they make round-trip journeys of up to ... Read More  

Polar Presents: Official Activity Guide and Other Free Resources Around the Web

First things first! I'm doing a free Polar presentation with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants today at 12:30 Eastern. Head over to their YouTube channel to watch. You can also catch the recording on demand. And remember ... Read More  

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Cooperative Hunting in Killer Whales

Polar is about animal adaptations - the behaviours, body parts, and body functions that help animals survive in extreme habitats. Each spread pairs two animal species - one in the Arctic and one in Antarctica - that are using ... Read More  

Party Like a Puffin with Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth

Two more sleeps until Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth lands in bookstores! I am so proud of this book and I can’t wait to share it with all of you. Which brings me to today’s topic: ... Read More  

Cache You Later: Leopard Seals and Their Leftovers

Despite what Coca Cola commercials would have you believe, polar bears and penguins have never met. Polar bears are apex predators of the Arctic, while penguins are only found in Antarctica.* That doesn't mean penguins are safe from predation... ...because ... Read More  

Waving Walruses: Cool Facts that Didn't Make the Cut (from Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth)

Waving Walruses: Cool Facts that Didn’t Make the Cut

Four more sleeps until Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth lands in a bookstore near you! During preliminary research for the book, when I was trying to figure out which adaptations I would cover and which animal ... Read More  

Ermines: Serial Killers or Survival Experts?

Predator-prey relationships are a natural part of nature - unfortunate for the prey, but necessary at the scale of ecosystems. As a scientist who studied carnivores, I sometimes forget that I was also a kid who sobbed whenever a ... Read More  

Book Cover - Polar Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth by L.E. Carmichael

Ice Worms and Appropriation of Inuit Culture

Six more sleeps until Polar! Today's post was going to be about the science of ice worms, a species I wanted to include in the book but ended up cutting because their range (at least in Alaska) is farther south ... Read More  

Stride or Slide? How Penguins Get From Place to Place

Polar is a book about the adaptations that help penguins (and other animals!) survive in Antarctic habitats. That meant I had to focus on showing the adaptation at work in the wild... which meant that I couldn't talk about ... Read More  

Eleven Reasons Arctic Foxes Are the Coolest

Eleven Reasons Arctic Foxes Are the Coolest

I learned about a LOT of amazing animals while researching Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth, but arctic foxes will always have a special place in my heart. One reason is that I spent 6 years studying ... Read More  


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