For Immediate Release

FAIRBANKS, Alaska—Scientists are now at Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks preparing to launch two NASA sounding rockets for two separate experiments. The launch window for both experiments opens on January 26, 2010 and extends until February 15, 2010.

In the experiment set to launch first (on January 26 if winds are favorable), researchers from the University of Colorado will use a rocket at the top of its arc 200 miles above the ground as a platform to obtain a electronic telescope image of a far-off galaxy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Stevie Seibert, GI Public Relations, 907-474-5229, stevie [dot] seibert [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Fairbanks, Alaska—Fish are the primary foods for many animals in Alaska, including humans. Scientific research has revealed possible contaminates affecting fish in their natural habitats and risks associated with diets rich in fish.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Stevie Seibert, GI Public Relations, 907-474-5229, stevie [dot] seibert [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Fairbanks, Alaska—For many years now, scientists have been tracking the thaw of permafrost throughout the Arctic. Since permafrost with the highest ice content is usually found closer to the ground surface where our structures are, Alaskans and other Arctic communities face major changes in the future if the degradation continues. Ecosystems, buildings, roads, and pipelines will likely lose their stability as the ground beneath them shifts.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Stevie Seibert, GI Public Relations, 907-474-5229, stevie [dot] seibert [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Fairbanks, Alaska—In early August 2008, Kasatochi Volcano in the Aleutians violently erupted. The green and lush island, formerly the home of hundreds of thousands of seabirds, became a sterile mountain of mud and ash. Scientists thought all life was wiped out on Kasatochi, but researchers found a few unlikely survivors on the island during a visit one year after the eruption.

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Jan 17, 2011 CONTACT: Stevie Seibert, GI Public Relations, 907-474-5229, stevie [dot] seibert [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Fairbanks, Alaska—Aurora displays in the night sky are one of the pleasures Alaskans look forward to during our long winters. The intensity of the aurora is dependent on particles being emitted from the sun. Solar activity is tracked in cycles and when the sun goes into a minimum, the aurora is visible less frequently. Typically, a solar minimum lasts about one year. However, the current minimum has been going on for more than three years.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Stevie Seibert, GI Public Relations, 907-474-5229, stevie [dot] seibert [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Fairbanks, Alaska—Each year, humpback whales migrate from the cool waters of Alaska to the warmth of Hawaii or Mexico. But while most animals and people might prefer to spend the mild winters in Hawaii and summers in Alaska, some humpbacks remain in the north during fall and winter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 7, 2011 

CONTACT: Stevie Seibert, GI Public Relations, 907-474-5229, stevie [dot] seibert [at] gi [dot] alaska [dot] edu

Fairbanks, Alaska—As one of the worst oil-related disasters of our time, the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill has sparked an investigation into understanding what went wrong and what can be done to prevent future spills of its magnitude.

For Immediate Release

FAIRBANKS, Alaska—Researchers can chalk up another accomplishment for the University of Alaska’s Unmanned Aircraft Program. Based on the seal-observing performance of the program’s 40-pound ScanEagles, researchers have learned the aircraft can operate in snow and light icing conditions. This feat enhances the viability of the technology, which has proven useful flying through smoke and fog during previous scientific flights.