All posts tagged: Polar

Rare POV footage captures polar bears’s melting habitat

Rare POV footage captures polar bears’s melting habitat

Published by skeptic

This incredible POV footage, captured in Canada’s Hudson Bay, is helping us learn more about how climate change is affecting polar bears. The climate in the Arctic is warming about two times faster than the rest of the planet. As a result, polar bears in the Hudson Bay are forced to spend more time on land, recently reaching 130 days of terrestrial life – a three-week increase since the 1980s. So far, scientists have suspected that the iconic marine mammals may be able to adapt to iceless life. New research that used collar POV cameras to track the bears’ behavioural changes on land, however, portrays a different reality. In this video, Mashable spoke to Dr. Anthony Pagano, a Research Wildlife Biologist and co-author of the study, about the results of their findings. Source link

UK cold weather: Brutal -1C Polar blast to hammer Britain | Weather | News

UK cold weather: Brutal -1C Polar blast to hammer Britain | Weather | News

Published by skeptic

Cold weather appears set to redevelop in late April, maps suggest, as some parts of the UK could see temperatures plummet below zero within days. April is famously a month of atmospheric to-and-fros, with many hot days over the last two weeks having been followed by a cold plunge. Now, just a few days after the Met Office recorded the hottest temperatures of 2024 so far, another cold spell appears to be on the horizon. WXCharts maps covering the next few days show an incoming burst of cold air that could envelop the country from near tip to toe. The system, the service suggests, will arrive on April 18 and cause some temperatures to drop to -1C. Minimum temperature maps from the provider, which uses data from MetDesk, show that the mercury will start to drop from 3am on Friday. Unusually for the month, they suggest the coldest lows will develop in England, as far north as Newcastle and south as Cornwall. Over most of that roughly 450-mile distance, thermometers will read 0C in the …

So Much Polar Ice Is Melting That It’s Slowing Down the Earth’s Rotation

So Much Polar Ice Is Melting That It’s Slowing Down the Earth’s Rotation

Published by skeptic

“Things are happening that are unprecedented.” Spin Cycle Climate change is causing so much polar ice melt that it’s slowing down Earth’s rotation and — here’s the kicker — it will alter how we measure time in the future. That’s the outrageous conclusion that Duncan Agnew, geophysicist and professor at University of California, San Diego, reached by analyzing data from satellite imagery, as detailed in a new study published in the journal Nature.  Basically, as polar ice melts into the ocean, there’s less mass overall at the poles and the middle of the planet becomes a little heavier, hence slowing down Earth’s rotation. “If you have a [figure] skater who starts spinning, if she lowers her arms or stretches out her legs, she will slow down,” Agnew told NBC News, using ice skating as an analogy to what’s happening to Earth’s rotational velocity. Topsy-Turvy And that raises a problem for the measurement of time itself. If Earth’s rotation is slowing down, that means timekeepers all over the world will have to adjust. This has impacts reaching …

Polar Grit X2 Pro Smartwatch Gets Reviewed

Polar Grit X2 Pro Smartwatch Gets Reviewed

Published by skeptic

If you’re an outdoor adventurer or athlete seeking a full-featured smartwatch that blends robust features with cutting-edge technology, the Polar Grit X2 Pro is a contender worth your attention. This video from DC Rainmaker delves into the details of what makes the Grit X2 Pro a standout option, by incorporating the sophisticated features of the Polar Vantage V3 into its design. From its display to its GPS capabilities, every aspect has been fine-tuned for the intrepid explorer and the dedicated athlete alike. Key Highlights: Integration with Polar Vantage V3 Features: The Polar Grit X2 Pro doesn’t just follow in the footsteps of its predecessors; it strides forward by integrating key features from the Polar Vantage V3. This includes offline mapping for those off-the-grid adventures, a multiband GPS for pinpoint accuracy, a new-generation optical heart rate sensor, and an AMOLED display for crystal clear visibility. Display Excellence: Sporting a 1.39-inch AMOLED display, the Grit X2 Pro offers visuals that are not just brighter but significantly more vivid than its predecessors. This enhancement, coupled with an always-on …

Polar Grit X2 Pro Smartwatch Unveiled

Polar Grit X2 Pro Smartwatch Unveiled

Published by skeptic

Polar has launched its latest smartwatch, the Polar Grit X2 Pro, and the device will come in a choice of colors including Night Black or Stone-Gray which will retail for $749.90 and Titan in Autumn Leather and Black Silicone for $869,90. The Polar Grit X2 Pro, meeting military 810H standards, ensures exceptional durability against extreme conditions such as varied temperatures, immersion, and corrosion. Designed for adventurers, it features advanced dual-frequency GPS and an enhanced antenna for precise navigation, complemented by comprehensive routing tools like topographic maps, Breadcrumbs,  turn-by-turn navigation, and Strava sync. It comes with pre-loaded maps of Europe and North America, and the option to download additional detailed maps for free, it’s ideal for outdoor exploration. The device also boasts up to 140 hours of battery life in eco mode, a built-in flashlight, and 32GB of storage for extensive offline data and map storage. “Science, precision, and grit are the values embodied by our Grit X Pro watches that have long been popular with military personnel, firefighters, and those that train in the most …

Deals: Polar Wolf Aluminum Ultra Portable External SSD

Deals: Polar Wolf Aluminum Ultra Portable External SSD

Published by skeptic

Imagine a world where you can carry all your important files, photos, videos, and more in your pocket, with the ability to access them at lightning-fast speeds. That’s the world the Polar Wolf Aluminum Ultra Portable drive offers. This sleek, user-friendly drive requires no driver for use, making it as simple as plug and play. Its compact design makes it easy to carry and transfer data on the go, perfect for those who are always on the move. The Polar Wolf Aluminum Ultra Portable drive is not just about convenience, it’s also about speed. With a speed of 520MB/s, you can transfer files in a flash, saving you precious time. Plus, it automatically enters sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity, conserving energy and prolonging its lifespan. Key Features of the Polar Wolf Aluminum Ultra Portable Drive Fast transfer speeds: With a speed of 520MB/s, you can transfer files quickly and efficiently. Wide compatibility: The drive is compatible with almost all USB-A & USB-C devices, including iPad Pro, Macbook, and USB-C laptops. Sleek, user-friendly design: …

UK snow forecast: Maps show 372-mile snow bomb blasting Britain in -3 Polar freeze | Weather | News

UK snow forecast: Maps show 372-mile snow bomb blasting Britain in -3 Polar freeze | Weather | News

Published by skeptic

A 372-mile snow bomb could be on the way as temperatures drop to -3C in a final winter blow. New weather maps on WX Charts – compiled using data from the Metdesk – show snow covering parts of the UK from March 1. From midnight, large parts of Scotland and northern England will see up to 8cm of snow. In England, Manchester, Yorkshire, and Cumbria can expect snow, while Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland will be worst hit. Other parts of the UK – including Wales – can expect rainfall in the early hours of March 1. A weather system running from Snowdonia is believed to be behind the sudden icy surge. The Met Office previously warned this last-gasp of winter may hit because of “blocked” air currents over Iceland and Greenland. A spokesman for WXCharts said: “Showers should reduce through Saturday, giving most areas a drier spell of weather. Further persistent rain and locally strong winds are likely to move into some southern areas on Sunday, though those further north are likely to see …

Pumped up: will a Dutch startup’s plan to restore Arctic sea-ice work? | Polar regions

Pumped up: will a Dutch startup’s plan to restore Arctic sea-ice work? | Polar regions

Published by skeptic

Every winter when the temperatures drop, the IJsmeester (ice master) in villages around the Netherlands carefully starts to flood a field with water to form enough thin layers of ice to create a perfect outdoor skating rink. Now a Dutch startup wants to use the same technique to help solve a major ecological problem: melting Arctic ice and its devastating effect on the climate. “In cold weather, the IJsmeesters start a frantic race to be the first village that can organise an ice-skating marathon,” says Fonger Ypma, chief executive of Arctic Reflections. “They flood a meadow with a thin layer that becomes ice, and every night they apply more thin layers on top of it. And then, once it’s thick enough, they start skating. It’s our cultural heritage.” The ice is about a metre thick. By refreezing the top layer, where there is snow, we will add 10-20cm Andrea Ceccolini Arctic ice is shrinking by almost 13% a decade, according to WWF, prompting warnings from climate scientists that ice-free summers in the Arctic are inevitable …

Polar ID Is the Face ID Rival for Android Phones, and Could Even Beat Apple

Polar ID Is the Face ID Rival for Android Phones, and Could Even Beat Apple

Published by skeptic

A little more than six years ago, Apple unveiled Face ID. It was a new method to biometrically unlock iPhones and authenticate purchases by scanning your face. Yet after all this time, there still hasn’t been a meaningful competitor on Android—at least, not with the same level of security and capabilities. Google’s Pixel 8 has Face Unlock, but it has trouble working in the dark; the Face Unlock available on Samsung smartphones can’t be used for secure applications, such as banking. In Androidland, the fingerprint scanner is king, but that might not be the case for long. Metalenz, a startup pioneering optics technology called “optical metasurfaces,” is hard at work on introducing secure face authentication to Android with its Polar ID technology. Late last year, it announced a partnership with Qualcomm to port its ongoing development to the chipmaker’s flagship processor. Today, at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, it announced that it will be using Samsung’s Isocell Vizion 931 image sensor to power its imaging system. I visited Metalenz’s headquarters in Boston to get …

UK snow forecast: Maps reveal -3C Polar freeze hitting Britain as far south as Cornwall | Weather | News

UK snow forecast: Maps reveal -3C Polar freeze hitting Britain as far south as Cornwall | Weather | News

Published by skeptic

The UK is set to face below freezing temperatures in the coming weeks after a mild February, according to the latest snow forecast. New weather maps show the -3C cold snap will hit on March 1 – with much of the UK waking up to frost and ice, including areas as far south as Devon and Cornwall. According to the maps from WXCharts, there could also be more flurries to come this year, with numerous areas coated in snow by 12pm on March 1. These areas include the south west of England, including seaside towns stretching along the south coast, as well as Wales, the Midlands, and parts of northern England and Scotland. North Wales will be worst hit, with the possibility of around 2cm of snow falling per hour. A weather system running from Snowdonia is believed to be behind the sudden icy surge. The Met Office previously warned this last-gasp of winter may hit because of “blocked” air currents over Iceland and Greenland. The unusually cold temperatures could be brought on by those …