Background Articles

The state is seeking new support from FEMA and other partners to expand studies of landslide risks on Wrangell Island and elsewhere in Alaska.

NASA's PACE satellite, designed to study ocean biology in unprecedented detail, has been successfully launched to enhance understanding of Earth's changing climate and improve weather forecasting.

“It’s a reflection of the plastic age we live in," said student researcher Tony Blade. "It’s ubiquitous."

Climate change is causing a 'microbial awakening' in Alaska's ecosystems, altering food webs as fungi become a major energy source for small mammals.

Kotzebue residents face heating challenges as Vitus fuel thickens in extreme cold, leading to clogged filters and system failures, prompting some to switch suppliers.

Subsistence hunters living in Northwest Alaska and parts of the North Slope are now only allowed to hunt up to 15 animals a year, only one of which can be a cow. This is a considerable change from five caribou a day, and it goes into effect on state-managed lands on July 1.

Idaho's Panhandle is experiencing near record-low snowpack levels, with persistent dry conditions and forecasts suggesting a continued negative impact on snowpack development.

A Dartmouth study reveals a significant decline in New England's snowpack, with many river basins losing over 10% per decade due to human-caused climate change.

A study by the Alaska Environment Research and Policy Center found microplastics in all water samples from Southcentral Alaska, indicating widespread contamination.

The new children's book combines traditional knowledge and scientific research to tell the story of a ringed seal pup in Kotzebue, Alaska, with a focus on the impact of climate change.

New Zealand's first mechanical suction dredge is being trialed in Northland to combat the invasive seaweed caulerpa, potentially revolutionizing marine biosecurity efforts.

Norway's transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is highlighted by nearly 8,000 fast-charging stations and incentives being scaled back due to success, with a focus now on electrifying transport trucks.

Wyloo Metals CEO Kristan Straub updates on the sustainable development of the Ring of Fire's Eagle's Nest nickel deposit, amid ongoing resistance and legal challenges from some First Nations seeking greater consultation and environmental protection.

Juneau shatters snow record for Jan. 22; forecaster says avalanches “could begin to endanger homes.”

Staff at Anchorage's Brother Francis Shelter have seen cases of hypothermia and frostbite, during a subzero chill expected to continue next week.

Scientists have tracked the life journey of a mammoth named Elma across ancient Alaska, revealing her path overlapped with human hunter camps, using chemical analysis of her tusk as a "chemical GPS."

Norway awards 62 new oil drilling licenses, signaling a push towards a 15-year peak in oil and gas production despite international calls for a halt in fossil fuel exploration.

Norway faces criticism from the European Parliament and environmental groups for its decision to allow mineral exploration in the Barents and Greenland Seas, despite concerns over potential ecological impacts and calls for a ban until proven safe.

Juneau's history of deadly landslides, particularly the 1936 disaster that killed multiple residents, is a testament to the region's susceptibility to such events, which may increase with changing weather patterns.

A study reveals that North Slope caribou are significantly more sensitive to oil field road traffic than previously thought, with disruptions occurring at traffic volumes as low as five vehicles per hour.