In February Floating sea ice around Antarctica has reached a record low for the second year in a row. Since satellites began tracking ice in the region in 1979, There has never been less ice. Like every year, as temperatures across the continent plunged toward winter, sea ice began to return. But scientists' mild alarm at this record low — which comes just a year after the previous record low — is now being overshadowed by astonishment. Some fear they could be witnessing the beginning of a slow collapse of Antarctic sea ice. There would normally be about 16.4 square kilometers of Antarctic sea ice at this time. But this week there was only 14.1 square kilometers. An area larger than Mexico failed to freeze. (Graham Readfearn, the Guardian)