Featured image: A visualization of the underside of Dotson Ice Shelf, showing mysterious teardrop-shaped areas of melting. Credit: Filip Stedt/University of Gothenburg

The first detailed map of the underside of an ice shelf reveals melted areas that have an unexpected shape: teardrops. The data, published today in Science Advances, could help researchers to better understand how ice is affected when scoured by ocean currents and might lead to more accurate predictions of sea-level rise.