Massive iconic iceberg turns blue and is "on the verge of complete disintegration," NASA says

January 9, 2026

TL;DR

Iceberg A23a, a massive berg that was once twice the size of Rhode Island, is turning blue.
NASA satellites and astronauts have documented pools of blue meltwater on its surface, indicating it is on the verge of disintegration.
The weight of the meltwater may have caused the iceberg to 'spring a leak,' punching through the ice.
Warmer air and ocean temperatures are expected to accelerate its demise.
A23a detached from Antarctica in 1986, hosted a Soviet research station, and remained grounded until 2020.
In January 2025, it narrowly avoided colliding with a penguin colony.
The iceberg's area has significantly reduced, now estimated at 1,182 square kilometers in early January 2026.

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