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This image by Canadian photographer Paul Nicklen, National Geographic magazine, from the series “Emperor Penguins, Ross Sea” won 1st prize in the Nature Stories category of the 56th World Press Photo Contest, it was announced by the organizers in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on 15 February 2013. It shows a group of Emperor Penguins swimming in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, on 18 November 2011. Even though they have evolved an incredibly advanced bubble physiology the greatest challenge they face is the loss of sea ice that supports their colonies and ecosystem. New science shows that Emperor Penguins are capable of tripling their swimming speed by releasing millions of bubbles from their feathers. These bubbles reduce the friction between their feathers and the icy seawater, allowing them to accelerate in the water. They use speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour to avoid leopard seals and to launch themselves up onto the ice. (Photo by Paul Nicklen/EPA)
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