Alaska
-
Indigenous Alaskans have no doubt the climate is changing
The U.S. Geological Survey had a novel idea about how to better understand climate change and its impacts: Ask the people most likely to be experiencing it. These researchers asked a group of people from Alaska's indigenous communities what their observations of climate change had been. Their basic response: Everything's all messed up.
-
As waves lap at their doorsteps, Alaskan islanders take on climate polluters
In Christine Shearer's book "Kivalina: A Climate Change Story," a tiny community threatened by rising seas takes major coal and oil companies to court.
-
Critical List: New York AG going after natural gas companies; species move one mile north each year
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman subpoenaed three energy companies as part of an investigation into natural gas production estimates.
If rats could abandon Ship Earth, they would right about now. Instead, species in the Northern Hemisphere are moving north at about a mile per year — three times faster than anyone imagined.
Kick your caffeine habit now: climate change could make 60 percent of the places that now grow coffee inhospitable to the crop by 2050. -
Obama administration moves against Alaska oil drilling
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving to grant increased protection to areas within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
-
Mystery orange goo turns Alaska into a Cheeto
The Alaskan village of Kivalina woke up coated in a shiny, powdery orange substance last week. When that happens to me it usually involves bourbon and Doritos, but presumably the authorities have ruled that out in this case. They've also said that the goo isn't oil-based -- but that's about all they know.
-
Polar bears discover Irish heritage
For a long time, scientists thought, as any reasonable person would, that the female ancestor of modern polar bears came from some Alaskan island. But it turns out that, like humans, bears are sometimes attracted to bears that come from foreign places, especially if they have cute accents. In fact, the female ancestor of polar bears came from, of all places, Ireland. (A press release from the Office of the Polar Bear King confirmed that yes, polar bears will be participating in St. Patrick's Day parades worldwide next year.)
-
Digging for permafrost in the Last Frontier
How much carbon is being released by the thawing of the Arctic's so-called permafrost? Ecologist Ted Schuur braves Alaska to find out.
-
Salmon surprise: House opposes FDA Frankenfish approval
The FDA is currently deliberating on whether to green-light genetically modified salmon and is widely expected to do just that sometime this year.
-
Why you love the places you live, in your own words
Last week I put out a question to you, dear readers: Why do you love the place you live? The response from you was immediate and tremendous.