Why thousands of emperor penguin chicks in Antarctica died in the 2022 breeding season

Thousands of emperor penguin chicks likely died in Antarctica because of record low levels of sea ice that caused ’catastrophic breeding failure’ in four colonies in late 2022, according to new research. Analysis of satellite images show the break up of usually stable sea ice and the disappearance of the colonies at a time when chicks had not yet grown their waterproof feathers. Scientists say emperor penguins face an uncertain future under global heating because they are so reliant on stable sea ice, which is projected to decline as the world’s oceans heat up