All articles tagged with #alaska
A young black bear attempts to prey on a moose calf, but the calf’s defense comes from an 800‑pound mother moose who charges in, allowing the calf to escape. The incident highlights the formidable defense of moose mothers and notes that, in parts of Alaska, black bears are significant predators of moose calves (roughly 40% kill rate in those areas).
A prolonged marine heatwave nicknamed 'The Blob' warmed North Pacific waters by up to 5.5°C, wiping out about 4 million common murres across Alaska from 2015–2016—the largest known die-off of a single vertebrate species—causing widespread reproductive failure, disrupted food webs, and cascading impacts on fisheries and top predators; no recovery has been observed through 2025.
A massive Doyon Drilling Rig 26, nicknamed “The Beast,” toppled over while being moved on an ice road on Alaska’s North Slope on January 23, 2026. Emergency responders contained a fire and all personnel were accounted for with no serious injuries, and nearby infrastructure remained undamaged. The nearly 10-million-pound, Arctic-extender rig—built in a collaboration with ConocoPhillips and used for extended-reach drilling—highlights the hazards of transporting heavy equipment in extreme cold and permafrost conditions, with salvage and investigations expected to follow.
Copper prices are surging and demand is expected to outpace supply for the next decade. The Pebble Mine in Alaska sits on vast copper and gold deposits but has been blocked by an EPA veto since 2014, stalling what could be a key domestic source for AI-driven infrastructure. Projections from S&P Global warn of a roughly 10 million metric ton copper shortfall by 2040 unless new mines come online, reviving calls to reevaluate permitting and push for domestic production amid political and environmental opposition across administrations.
Schumer, citing a DSCC memo, says Democrats have a real chance to flip the Senate in 2026 by targeting four must-win states—North Carolina, Maine, Ohio, and Alaska—with Iowa and Texas as possible additions, while emphasizing cost-of-living issues and candidate recruitment amid crowded primaries; Alaska gains Mary Peltola's entry, illustrating the ongoing dynamics, but the path remains challenging yet clearly outlined.
Former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola announced she is running for the U.S. Senate, giving Democrats a high-profile candidate in a red-leaning state and framing herself as an outsider focused on local issues like fishing and living costs, while facing a tough race against Republican Dan Sullivan.
Former Rep. Mary Peltola announces a U.S. Senate run in Alaska to challenge two-term Republican Dan Sullivan. A former Alaska Native congresswoman with a centrist, Blue Dog background, Peltola is banked on her name recognition and bipartisan appeal after narrowly losing reelection in 2024, hoping to energize Democrats in a historically Republican-leaning state. Sullivan has Trump’s endorsement and solid fundraising, while Democrats have spent millions on ads to frame him, making the race an uphill fight in a state that Trump carried by double digits. Peltola stresses Alaska-first priorities and positions on gun rights and abortion rights, signaling a bid to win over harder-to-woo GOP voters in a bid to flip the seat.
Former Rep. Mary Peltola announced a bid for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat, a major Democratic recruitment win that could reshape the 2026 map as she faces Sen. Dan Sullivan in a ranked-choice race; she’s backed by Senate Dem leader Schumer while facing GOP headwinds and opposing endorsements, with Murkowski backing Sullivan and NRSC attacks signaling a tough, high-stakes contest that could still elevate Alaska’s role in the majority fight.
Fossilized bones in an Alaskan museum thought to be the last mammoth turned out to be whale bones, dating from 2,000 to 3,000 years ago, challenging previous assumptions about their age and origin, and highlighting the importance of DNA analysis in accurate species identification.
Recent analysis of fossils housed in Alaska's University of Alaska Museum revealed that what were thought to be mammoth bones from the Ice Age are actually from two ancient whales, a discovery confirmed through isotope and DNA analysis, challenging previous assumptions about the fossils' origins and highlighting the importance of modern scientific techniques.
The U.S. Space Force has officially taken control of the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska, marking its transition from testing to operational use to enhance missile defense capabilities with more precise tracking and faster response times.
The Trump administration announced the first awards from a $50 billion rural health fund, with Alaska receiving $272 million, highlighting disparities and priorities in rural healthcare funding amid ongoing Medicaid concerns.
Health officials in Anchorage confirmed a case of mpox in an unvaccinated adult who recently traveled out of state; no local transmission has been detected, and close contacts are being monitored. The virus spreads through contact with infected individuals or materials, with symptoms including fever, rash, and lesions. Vaccination is available for prevention, and health authorities advise on reporting and monitoring potential cases.
Fossils initially thought to be the youngest mammoth remains in Alaska were later identified through DNA testing as whale bones, revealing a case of mistaken identity and raising questions about how whale bones ended up far inland.
During the three-year COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska, 1,564 residents died, equating to 1 in 500 people, with higher mortality among unvaccinated and certain racial groups, and significant impacts from the delta variant. The report highlights the evolving nature of the pandemic and the importance of vaccination in saving lives.