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☆ The ‘Doomsday Glacier’ is rapidly melting. Scientists now have evidence for when it started and why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

They have discovered it started retreating rapidly in the 1940s, according to a new study that provides an alarming insight into future melting. The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is the world’s widest and roughly the size of Florida. “Once an ice sheet retreat is set in motion it can continue for decades, even if what started it gets no worse,” he told CNN. While similar retreats have happened much further back in the past, the ice sheet recovered and regrew, Smith said. “Further events arising more from the warming climate trend took things further, and started the widespread retreat we’re seeing today,” he told CNN.

Persons: Antarctica’s, Thwaites, Joshua Stevens, Julia Wellner, that’s, ” Wellner, you’re, James Smith, “, ”, Smith, ” Thwaites, Jeremy Harbeck, NASA Ted Scambos, Martin Truffer, Truffer, — Organizations: CNN —, National Academy of Sciences, El, West, NASA, Observatory, University of Houston, CNN, British Antarctic Survey, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Alaska Locations: West Antarctica, Florida, Pine, Antarctica, University of Alaska Fairbanks, “

☆ Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ lands but its fate is unclear due to power issue
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Rovers, science experiments, golf balls and other telltale signs of human exploration still sit on the lunar surface, and it’s only just beginning as more space agencies and countries plan trips to the moon. An artist's illustration depicts the SLIM lander's descent toward the lunar surface. JAXAJapan’s “Moon Sniper” robotic explorer successfully landed on the lunar surface Friday but almost immediately encountered a critical issue. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency team said it believes the solar power issue is a result of the spacecraft facing the wrong direction. If the Moon Sniper can soak up some sunlight, the mission may continue.

Persons: Smart Lander, Emmanuel Rondeau, ”, Eager, Nick Famoso, Irene Stachon, Trent Ford, Lockheed Martin, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, ”, telltale, JAXA, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, North America, University of Alaska, WWF, Force, NASA, Lockheed, CNN Space, Science Locations: Soviet, North, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Elma, Malayan, Malaysia, Oregon, Mitchell , Oregon, Scandinavia, Finland, Äkäslompolo, United States, Chicago, Illinois

☆ Migration of Alaska’s earliest people linked to woolly mammoth’s movements
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jenna Schnuer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The tusk belonged to a woolly mammoth later named Élmayųujey’eh or, for short, Elma. Karen Spaleta, one of the new study's coauthors, takes a sample from a mammoth tusk found at Alaska's Swan Point archaeological site. Woolly mammoth tusks grew at a consistent daily rate, with the earliest days of the animal’s life recorded in the tip of the tusks. “The US Geological Survey has done a pretty darn good job mapping rocks in Alaska,” Rowe said. Changing the picture of hunter-gatherersThe new evidence advances more than an understanding of the early relationship between woolly mammoths and humans.

Persons: Audrey Rowe, Matthew Wooller, Wooller, Karen Spaleta, Rowe, ” Rowe, “, ” Wooller, ”, Love Dalén, Dalén, ” Dalén, Julius Csotonyi, Hunter, Jenna Schnuer Organizations: CNN, University of Alaska, university’s College of Fisheries, Ocean Sciences, Geological Survey, Palaeogenetics Locations: Alaska, Canada, United States, Elma, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Swan, Stockholm, Sweden, Anchorage , Alaska

☆ Alaska's once crystal-clear rivers now resemble dirty orange soda, puzzling researchers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The melting permafrostEven before researchers knew about the orange waters, they realized northern Alaska was rapidly changing. The Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network mapped locations of orange streams, and aerial photos show how easy they are to spot because of their brightness. When scientists went to the orange streams to count fish, insects, algae, and other aquatic life , "biodiversity just crashed," biologist Mike Carey told Scientific American . Advertisement"The fish were totally gone," Koch told BI. The streams Koch monitors near the Brooks Range are fairly remote, but the rivers they feed into provide fish for human communities in this region.

Persons: John McPhee, Joshua Koch, It's, —, Michael Carey, Koch, Carson Baughman, Kenneth Hill, Mike Carey Organizations: Service, US Geological Survey, Koch, Survey, Geological Survey, National Park Service, University of California, Davis , Alaska Pacific University, University of Alaska, Scientific, BI Locations: Salmon, Beaufort, Kobuk, , Alaska, Davis ,, Anchorage —, Alaska

☆ Who is Tom Emmer, new Republican nominee for US House speaker?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN) arrives for a House Republican conference meeting to choose a nominee in the race for House Speaker at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., October 24, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - U.S. House Republicans picked Majority Leader Tom Emmer as their nominee for speaker on Tuesday, making him the third pick in as many weeks, after the last two failed to garner enough support on the House floor to get the gavel. LEADERSHIP ROLEEmmer served as chair of the House Republicans' campaign arm from 2019 to 2022, helping to win back the majority in 2022 before being elected majority whip. Emmer has pushed back on this, pointing to his endorsements of Trump in 2016 and 2020, and adding that other Republican leaders have also not endorsed Trump yet, including former speaker nominee Steve Scalise and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. However Trump came out swinging against Emmer on Tuesday, saying on social media, "Voting for a Globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!"

Persons: Tom Emmer, Jonathan Ernst, Emmer, Jacquie, Donald Trump's, Trump, Steve Scalise, Kevin McCarthy, Moira Warburton, Alistair Bell, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Republican, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, . House Republicans, Congressional District, Emmer, University of Alaska, William Mitchell College of Law, House Republicans, Republicans, Financial Services, Congressional Blockchain Caucus, TRUMP, Trump, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, Fairbanks, St, Paul , Minnesota, Ukraine, Washington

☆ Move Over, Men: Women Were Hunters, Too
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Katrina Miller | More About Katrina Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The researchers also found that women were more flexible in their approaches to hunting as they aged. Which weapons they chose, the game they chased and who accompanied them during hunts changed with age and the number of children or grandchildren the hunters had. The details about female hunting patterns were not easy to uncover, Ms. Chilczuk said; the reports often prioritized discussions of the male hunters. But the findings, when they emerged, made a certain sense, she added: If hunting was the chief means of survival, why would only men participate? “I always assumed that women did hunt probably more often than was recognized,” she said.

Persons: “, they’re, ”, Scheffler, Chilczuk, Ms, Tammy Buonasera, —, Randy Haas, We’ve Organizations: University of Alaska, Wayne State University Locations: University of Alaska Fairbanks

☆ The Northern Lights are expected to be visible in 17 states on Thursday. Here's how to get the best view.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Northern Lights are expected to be visible from 17 states on Thursday. It includes places as far south as New York and Maryland, The Associated Press reported. You should get away from city lights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time to get a good view. Thursday's lights are set to be more visible as the forecasted solar storm will result in increased auroral activity. According to the Geophysical Institute, in one rare event in 1958, the Northern Lights were even visible from Mexico City.

Organizations: Associated Press, Service, AP, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Atmospheric Administration Locations: New York, Maryland, Wall, Silicon, Canada, Scandinavia, Alaska , Oregon, Washington , Idaho , Montana , Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan, New York , New Hampshire , Vermont , Indiana , Maine, Annapolis , Maryland, Boise , Idaho, Riverton , Wyoming, California, Arizona, Mexico City

☆ New analysis reveals dynamic volcanism on Venus
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A February 1991 image showed the vent as a circular formation covering about one square mile (2.6 square km). A October 1991 image showed the vent with an irregular shape covering about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square km). Another study published in 2020 identified 37 volcanic structures apparently active in the past 2 million to 3 million years. Venus, with a diameter of about 7,500 miles (12,000 km), is slightly smaller than Earth. Its thick atmosphere - mainly carbon dioxide - traps in heat in a runaway greenhouse effect, rendering Venus the solar system's hottest planet.

☆ There are whispers on Capitol Hill of a rare bipartisan effort to overhaul Social Security as the program is set to go broke in less than 10 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A group of senators is considering a sovereign wealth fund (SWF) to prevent Social Security insolvency, Semafor reported. A SWF is a government-backed investment fund, and its profits would be used to pay Social Security benefits. In this case, such investments would be used to fund Social Security payments. The goal is, members of the group told Semafor, for Social Security to be solvent for 75 more years, at least. "Although the final framework is still taking shape, there are no cuts for Americans currently receiving Social Security benefits in our plan.

☆ What's up there? Possible explanations for mystery objects downed by U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Joey Roulette | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Military officials say that until they are able to recover the debris, they are unlikely to know for sure what the objects were. Scientists use balloons to study wind patterns, air quality, and other aspects of Earth's atmosphere. STILL UNEXPLAINEDThe object downed over Canada on Saturday was described by Canada's defense minister as resembling a balloon. Senator Marco Rubio, leaving a classified briefing on the objects on Tuesday, told reporters that they are no different than the hundreds of benign objects cited in past intelligence reports. "We've never shot down anything in over 65 years of NORAD, and in one week they shot down three things," he said.

☆ Fact Check-Earthquake in Turkey was not a HAARP operation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Multiple experts told Reuters that HAARP could not have been responsible for the earthquake in Turkey or anywhere as it does not have such capabilities. HAARP CANNOT TRIGGER EARTHQUAKESAccording to the HAARP website’s FAQ section, it cannot control or manipulate the weather (haarp.gi.alaska.edu/faq). Nishimura said there may not have been lightning strikes at all in the video shared online. Experts say the Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey was not a result of a HAARP operation because HAARP does not have capabilities to trigger earthquakes. (Update Feb. 13, 2023: Replaces paragraph 8 with response from HAARP program manager)This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

☆ Some Neanderthals couldn't smell their own stink, suggests a new study recreating early humans' noses
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Meanwhile, one group of a related species — Neanderthals — developed a mutation that could have spared them the smell of their own body odors. It's a popular idea that humans have a bad sense of smell, as compared with dogs, for instance. Will Oliver/PA Images/Getty"We have to really understand ourselves within our own context," rather than comparing humans to dogs or monkeys, as previous research on smell receptors has done, Hoover said. To Hoover's surprise, the Neanderthals, Denisovan, and humans all appeared to have the same repertoire of smells. More research like it, with more samples of ancient genomes, could reveal a clearer picture of Neanderthal and Denisovan life.

☆ Photos from space show 11,000 beavers are wreaking havoc on the Alaskan tundra as savagely as wildfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Beavers are invading Alaska's Arctic tundra as it warms, transforming the landscape like wildfire. As the Arctic tundra warms, woody plants are growing along its rivers and streams, creating perfect habitats for beavers. The beaver ponds create lush oases that could increase biodiversity, but they also play a role in accelerating the climate crisis. All in all, satellites reveal more than 11,000 beaver ponds have appeared across the tundra. Environmental Research Letters/Imagery © DigitalGlobe"All of western Alaska is now really densely populated with beaver ponds," Tape said.

☆ Rain could soon overtake snow in parts of the Arctic, top scientists warn
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Broken up sea ice is seen from the window of a NASA research flight above the east coast of Greenland. That's causing Arctic sea ice to diminish, the tundra to turn green with vegetation, and sea birds to starve to death in droves. Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesFor the first time this year, NOAA has determined that Arctic precipitation — either rain or snow — is increasing across all seasons. But in places like southwest Alaska, that means rain falling on top of snow, then freezing. Bhatt is part of a group of researchers assessing whether the Arctic tundra in southwest Alaska should be reclassified as sub-Arctic tundra.

☆ Whales can have an important but overlooked role in tackling the climate crisis, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Much like the ocean, soil and forests, whales can help save humanity from the accelerating climate crisis by sequestering and storing planet-heating carbon emissions, researchers say. In a paper published Thursday in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, climate researchers suggest that whales are important, but often overlooked, carbon sinks. As the need grows for nature-based solutions such as tree planting to help solve the climate crisis, Pearson said it is important to understand the ability of whales to trap carbon. “You can think of protecting whales as a low risk and low regret strategy, because there’s really no downside,” Pearson told CNN. But there remain big gaps in knowledge to fully determine how whale carbon should be used in climate mitigation policies.

☆ Whales help mitigate climate change by pooping carbon into the ocean and taking more with them when they die, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They act as carbon vaults by sinking to the bottom of the ocean when they die, scientists said. Though it may not be a solution to the climate crisis on its own, their ability to store carbon is another reason to encourage their numbers to rise in the oceans, the scientists said. Whales naturally store carbon by living their lifeWhales capture carbon mainly by pooping and dying. "You can think of whales as like big floating trees in the ocean," Pearson said. The whales can then feed on these new lifeforms, in huge quantities, locking that carbon in their body for many decades.

☆ Rep. Mary Peltola — the 'pro-fish, pro-family, and pro-choice' Alaska congresswoman — credits her father for the encouragement she needed to defeat Sarah Palin
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Isabella Zavarise | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

On September 13, Mary Peltola made history as the first Alaska Native sworn into Congress. Peltola told Insider she was on the fence about running until an encouraging call from her father. She's really been on my mind a lot lately," she said. Peltola is the first Alaska Native to serve in CongressOn September 13, Peltola was sworn into Congress, making history as the first Alaska Native. 'We built the table'When Dr. Michele Yatchmeneff, the Executive Director for Alaska Native Education and Outreach at The University of Alaska Anchorage found out about Peltola's win, she teared up.

☆ Melting ice in Alaska is forming new lakes full of bacteria 'belching' methane into the atmosphere, NASA scientist warns
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NASA is studying "thermokarsts" in Alaska, lakes that appear as permafrost there thaws. Walter Anthony has been working with NASA's ABoVE project to study Big Trail lake's effect on climate change. "As they decompose it, they are belching out methane gas," she said. Walter Antony is seen in a kayak on Big Trail lake in Alaska. It's only the newer lakes, like Big Trail, which appeared less than 50 years ago, that give off high levels of the gas.

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