NASA’s PREFIRE mission captured two years of seasonal temperature data from the Arctic and Antarctic, revealing how surface temperatures vary across the poles. Twin CubeSats began collecting infrared measurements in July 2024 and have recorded two full seasonal cycles at each pole. Because the poles lie in opposite hemispheres, their seasons occur at opposite times, and temperature swings differ between them. Satellite imagery shows surface temperatures shifting from dark blue (cold) to light blue and red (warmer) over the course of each year. In the Arctic, winters are dark and cold, while summers become warm enough to melt tundra and sea ice. In Antarctica, summer temperatures stay near freezing before winter returns. Measuring far‑infrared energy, which accounts for about 60% of Earth’s outgoing radiation, helps scientists refine climate models. The PREFIRE data provide the first comprehensive view of this invisible energy flow. “By measuring the invisible heat radiated from Earth’s coldest regions, PREFIRE improves understanding of rapid polar change and its potential impact on the global climate,” said Chad Greene, glaciologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “These observations affect weather patterns, river flows, shipping routes, and ice‑sheet stability,” said Tristan L’Ecuyer, atmospheric scientist at the University of Wisconsin‑Madison and principal investigator of the mission. The mission enables more accurate predictions that support industries, national defense, and Arctic communities. Continued observations from PREFIRE will help determine how long‑term polar warming trends may influence global sea level rise and weather systems.