<human>: Is it true that the Earth is losing ice at an alarming rate?
<bot>: Yes, according to recent studies, the Earth's polar ice caps are melting at a rapid rate. The Arctic sea ice has decreased by over 40% since 1979, and Antarctica's ice sheet is also shrinking rapidly. These changes have been attributed to global warming caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture.