apparently the annual mass blooms of phytoplankton in the arctic circle have been witnessed much earlier and in far greater numbers than ever before due to the receding ice. it's not clear whether the production is actually premature, having been triggered by melting ice sheets and warmer temperatures, or if it's simply the first time we've been able to observe it without all that pesky ice.

I realize this isn't exactly an enthralling subject of mass appeal, but I think it's very interesting. it's a discovery with enormous potential to affect the entire ecosystem and our understanding of the entire region, especially given that the base of scientific knowledge in the arctic is relatively new in the first place.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...plankton-bloom