Meteorologist Katarzyna Kudłacz conducts weather research at the Polish Polar Station Hornsund on the frigid island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Ocean. Kudłacz and her team endure some of the planet's most extreme and inhospitable conditions, yet they were recently reminded they're not entirely alone.

Last week, while preparing breakfast, Kudłacz noticed several large figures peering through a window. It was hard to miss the sight of a mother polar bear and her two cubs curiously observing the researchers.

"The meeting was quite unusual," Kudłacz told The Dodo. "The bears looked into the windows of the polar station with great interest. I immediately alerted the entire station."

The unexpected visitors provided a startling start to the day, negating the need for morning coffee. "We didn’t need coffee to wake us up this morning," a spokesperson for the station noted.

Polar bears are common in the area, but it's rare for them to come so close to the station. Kudłacz and her colleagues understood the importance of maintaining a safe distance from the wild animals. Using noisemakers, the staff gently encouraged the bears to move along.

For Kudłacz, the experience was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. "It was a wonderful experience," she said. "But also a bit stressful."

This memorable encounter is a testament to the unpredictable and awe-inspiring nature of life in the Arctic, where researchers share their remote environment with the majestic polar bears.