The earth is getting warmer, and fast. That could make Arctic ice melt so fast that we could even see a North Pole shipping route take hold.

As soon as a few decades from now, we could see deep sea ships cruising past the coast of Siberia. The route would be called the Northwest Passage, and, according to American researchers who published a study in the journal "Proceedings,“ particularly sturdy freighters might even be able to sail right over the North Pole itself.

Traveling from the Far East to Europe on the Northwest Passage would ultimately be around 40 percent shorter than the current Suez Canal route – meaning companies would save some 3,000 kilometers per trip, cutting down on fuel, time and money.