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NSF Halts U.S. Icebreaker, Thwarting Antarctic Research Plans

1/24/2026

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NSF Halts Research Icebreaker

The National Science Foundation has halted operations of the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, the only dedicated U.S. research icebreaker, limiting UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography work in Antarctica for 2025-2026 field season.
Researchers are studying ice loss at Thwaites Glacier and cancer-fighting compounds from Antarctic sea squirts during 2025-2026 field season.
With the Palmer out of service, substitute vessels not suited for heavy ice limit access to crucial study areas.

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Researchers Assess Thwaites

Researchers are drilling into Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, the Doomsday Glacier, to assess conditions that could drive dangerous sea-level rise.
If Thwaites melts, global sea levels could rise about two feet and trigger other glaciers, adding as much as ten feet.
A team aboard the icebreaker Araon retrieves memory cards from an underwater robot while scientists study Thwaites, emphasizing reliable equipment in extreme conditions.

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NSF Halts Research Icebreaker

The National Science Foundation has halted operations of the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer, the only dedicated U.S. research icebreaker, limiting UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography work in Antarctica for 2025-2026 field season.
Researchers are studying ice loss at Thwaites Glacier and cancer-fighting compounds from Antarctic sea squirts during 2025-2026 field season.
With the Palmer out of service, substitute vessels not suited for heavy ice limit access to crucial study areas.

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