Special
After the ice
The Arctic is changing fast. In September 2011, the extent of summer sea ice was either a new record low or tied with the low of 2007, depending on how you crunch the data. Ships are plying the newly opened waters, oil companies are increasing their exploration, locals are developing their mineable resources, and scientists are scrambling to study the changing environment and promote its sustainable development. Nature investigates the state of science at the new northern frontier.
Image credit: Chris Linder, WHOI