Polar Prem 🦭(Prem Gill)

@polarprem.bsky.social

PhD student at British Antarctic Survey /Cambridge University studying Antarctic seals from space. National Geographic Explorer. Royal Geographical Society trustee. Founder - Polar Impact. Science. Seals. Cold Places. Wildlife film.

Researchers have identified superparamagnetic macrophages in the livers of rock pigeons to be crucial for magnetic sensing. The finding uncovers an unexpected role for immune cells in sensory perception and may fundamentally change our understanding of animal navigation. https://scim.ag/4nTQ3nq

How animals sense Earth’s magnetic field is one of biology’s enduring mysteries. Researchers have now identified superparamagnetic macrophages in the livers of rock pigeons (Columba livia) to be crucial for magnetic sensing. The finding uncovers an unexpected role for immune cells in sensory perception and may fundamentally change our understanding of animal navigation.

Photo: Andreas Teichmann/laif/Redux

I’ve just been asked one of the most important questions of my entire PhD. What colour should l bind my hardbound thesis in? Cambridge Blue (a light spring green, #85B09A) is a popular choice with my supervisor’s past students. I need the public's opinion! All colours are on the table. #phd

So, Reading University recorded 33.1°C today, which beats the previous all-UK May daily record. Kew Gardens says, “hold my beer”, recording 35.1°C. For the same weather patterns, these temperatures would have been low-30s in a past climate. Burning fossil fuels has made these heatwaves hotter.

Happy 100th Sir David Attenborough! While I haven’t met Sir David in person, I was asked to work on his Frozen Planet II series while a PhD student. Making sure the scripts and stories Attenborough would be narrating were all scientifically sound was an exciting and surreal undertaking.

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I’m now certified to drive powerboats in Antarctica as part of my seal scientist duties! Ty to Andrew Simpson Foundation for training me up so well. The money the foundation earns goes back into their mission of providing young people, regardless of background, access to water based sports/hobbies!

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Have you watched LIFE UNEARTHED yet!? Binge the first 2 episodes on the PBS app, Apple TV or Amazon in the U.S. and Canada. Outside the U.S. or Canada? Catch the first episode of LIFE UNEARTHED right here: youtu.be/XFXHwz8PgcY?... Come for the tardigrades, stay for the epic views. 🧪🦠

“The researchers used drones carrying sterile petri dishes to capture droplets from the exhaled breath of whales…they confirmed for the first time that a potentially deadly whale virus, known as cetacean morbillivirus, is circulating above the Arctic Circle.” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Drones detect deadly virus in Arctic whales' breath

Whale breath collected by drones is giving clues to the health of wild humpbacks and other whales.

bbc.co.uk

❄ November 2025: Arctic sea ice extent ranked second-lowest for November in the 47-year satellite record at 12% below average. Antarctic extent was the fourth-lowest for the month, 7% below average. Find out more ⬇️

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In our Climate Report my coauthors and I say: We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. Consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now. Read report here doi.org/10.1093/bios...

The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink

We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer

doi.org

I’m on vacation walking in the Dolomites. Today I hiked near the Marmolada glacier - what was once a vast mass of ice is now streaked with bare rock and thinning fast. Just looked it up: the glacier has retreated ~7 m in the past year alone Climate change in action… www.unipd.it/news/campagn...

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🚨 Monday ice update - #Arctic sea ice extent is currently the *lowest* on record (JAXA data) • about 350,000 km² below the 2010s mean • about 1,010,000 km² below the 2000s mean • about 1,590,000 km² below the 1990s mean • about 2,150,000 km² below the 1980s mean More: zacklabe.com/arctic-sea-i...

Line graph time series of 2025's daily Arctic sea ice extent compared to decadal averages from the 1980s to the 2010s. The decadal averages are shown with different colored lines with purple for the 1980s, blue for the 1990s, green for the 2000s, and white for the 2010s. Thin white lines are also shown for each year from 2000 to 2024. 2025 is shown with a thick gold line. There is a long-term decreasing trend in ice extent for every day of the year shown on this graph between May and August by looking at the decadal average line positions.

We have 3 years before we burn through the carbon budget for 1.5°C World leaders promised action in 2015. Since then: 🔥 Record fossil fuel use 🌲 More deforestation 📈 Rising emissions This isn’t a lack of solutions. It’s a lack of will. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three years left to limit warming to 1.5C, top scientists warn - BBC News

The Earth could be doomed to breach a key climate target in as little as three years, scientists warn.

bbc.co.uk

Breaking news: it appears Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica are declining faster than predicted. Latest satellite data shows a massive 22% drop in penguin numbers over the last 15 years in key regions. This is more than double the rate of loss that experts had expected... 🧵 1/8