Editor's note

About 600 miles from the South Pole, near the peak of a mighty ice sheet, lies “Ridge A”, one of the least hospitable places imaginable. Though it is late summer in Antarctica, the temperature on the ridge remains below -50˚C, cold enough to freeze almost all of the moisture out of the atmosphere. But, as astronomer Jacco Van Loon explains, this is exactly what makes Ridge A the best place on Earth from which to stare into space.

Donald Trump last week accepted an invitation to meet with Kim Jong-un, a remarkable diplomatic lurch in one of the world’s most dangerous stand-offs. So what will the stakes be when they finally sit down together? Maria Ryan explains how Trump and Kim got here, what they have to do next, and whether we should expect their dialogue to succeed.

If you’ve been near a university lately, you might have noticed a picket line, with academics at many institutions striking over their pensions. As the strikes roll into their third week, we asked pensions expert Ania Zalewska to explain what’s going on.

Will de Freitas

Environment + Energy Editor

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Harvepino / shutterstock

Astronomers have found their paradise, and it's the coldest and most remote point in Antarctica

Jacco van Loon, Keele University

'Ridge A' sits at the peak of the Antarctic ice sheet and has exceptionally cold, dry, thin and dark skies.

EPA/KCNA

Q&A: What might come of a Donald Trump meeting with Kim Jong-un?

Maria Ryan, University of Nottingham

Thanks to South Korea, there is a chance for peace with North Korea. Whether the Trump administration can take it is another matter.

Up in arms. Jane Barlow/PA Wire/PA Images

University lecturer explains why academics are striking over pension cuts

Ania Zalewska, University of Bath

From the outside, it might look like another case of a pension black hole problem hitting another UK institution. Not so.

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  • Seven myths of the social media age

    Angela Phillips, Goldsmiths, University of London

    There are a lot of misconceptions about how social media is changing society. Here are some of the most important.

 

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