Science

A previous analysis of an ancient jawbone led scientists to believe that polar bears survived a period that was warmer than today — a time when the planet was warm enough that hippos lived where London is now.

Once called the Alaska willow, they are the most plentiful moose food in the state and cover nearly the entire landmass.

Scientists say hundreds of “disruptive” interactions off Europe’s Iberian coast may have been triggered by a traumatic incident between a killer whale and a boat.

There was a lot of ice and excitement, but no major catastrophes as the masses moved downstream without incident.

To unravel how malaria-carrying mosquitoes sniff out their next juicy meal, scientists set up a screened-in outdoor laboratory in Zambia.

Gas seeps are prized by scientists because they are “potential sources of alternative energy and biopharmaceuticals,” NOAA says.

An Ohio scientist dug into the question and found it likely that it allows moose to feed in water without getting their nostrils flooded.

A recently published paper on the dog’s genomics establishes the diversity of 1920s sled dogs.

A UAF citizen science program took off during the pandemic and now garners submissions from more than 1,000 people each year, helping scientists better predict where flooding may occur.

Hydrologists caution that persistently cold weather through most of April and a delayed breakup could result in ice jams and snowmelt flooding near the state’s major rivers.

While it may be a lean time for finding food, North Slope bears will often venture out in early April.

Syun-Ichi Akasofu, who ran the International Arctic Research Center and Geophysical Institute, helped develop the northern lights tourism market, especially among Japanese tourists.

Beavers are building dams and expanding waterways in the region. Researchers traveled from Nome to Kotzebue by snowmachine recently to more closely examine the animals’ impacts.

“It was beautiful. It was kind of a shame to think of it as exhaust, I have to admit,” said photographer Todd Salat, who captured the spiral on camera near Delta Junction.

In Utqiaġvik, a team has used sterilized trowels to scrape a thin layer of snow from fresh polar bear footprints. Methods like that help scientists learn more about the animals without bothering them or taking extreme risks.

The Iditarod Trail Invitational, which runs the same time as the historic dog race, is a test of endurance and a chance to see some of Alaska’s most expansive country.

Indigenous experts, hunters, scientists and policymakers shared their perspectives on the impacts of diminishing sea ice at the recent Arctic Encounter Symposium.

Ravens almost always congregate together at night, and that often means flying dozens of miles away from food sources only to return the next day.

Since they don’t hibernate, the mammals use an alternative set of tactics to survive the coldest months.

Snowpack is one of the world’s most valuable resources, providing sustenance for crops and drinking water.

The creature, with a range from Baja California to Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, would be the first sea star with an Endangered Species Act listing.

Science writer Ned Rozell recently returned from a trip to Costa Rica with plenty of observations on the creatures that inhabit the country and how they differ from his home.

Even though the frequency of tremors slightly diminished Friday, earthquake activity at the volcanoes was still occurring about every minute or two.