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The polar regions hold crucial scientific secrets — and the time to study them is running out

Marie-Anne Blanchet crouched down next to a sedated and blindfolded polar bear mother laying on the ice with two polar bear cubs on her back

Spatial scientist Marie-Anne Blanchet prepares to take samples from a sedated polar bear. Credit: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty

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Nature 642, 29-30 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01683-y

Updates & Corrections

  • Correction 09 June 2025: This review omitted the term ‘non-glaciated areas’ while discussing the Arctic’s climate impact, misrepresenting the author’s view on how Shubin’s book missed an opportunity to highlight how ice-free polar regions shape global climate systems.

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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