In the freezing waters of Earth’s loneliest continent, secrets are being unveiled: from a marine invertebrate producing a compound effective in treating skin cancer, to the only animal surviving without the oxygen transporter molecule hemoglobin, all while more is discovered about one of Earth’s mass extinctions. In this breathtaking environment, the R/V Sikuliaq is serving as a floating home to researchers who aim to understand more of the Southern Ocean’s secrets.
Alaska’s State Medical Board met on March 19for their monthly meeting to discuss a bill proposed by Representative Jamie Allard. This bill that she is sponsoring criminalizes gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Alaska.
Under this bill, gender-affirming care that includes surgery and hormone blockers or hormonal supplements specifically for trans-youth will no longer be allowed to be administered, even with parental consent. There are exceptions to this bill for youth who under specific circumstances require these surgeries or hormones.
University of Alaska President Pat Pitney discussed the progress and growth UA has made in reversing enrollment declines, creating more research opportunities, funding scholarships and more at the last State of the University Address before her upcoming retirement in May. Pitney gave her speech at a hotel with the Rotary Club of Fairbanks March 19.
After more than 50 years of preserving Alaska Native languages, the Alaska Native Language Center now faces budget cuts, staffing shortages, and a gap in leadership. These challenges threaten decades of progress in the efforts to preserve languages on the brink of extinction.
After a week‑long spring break, the ASUAF Senate met on Tuesday to discuss the retention of three senators, funding approvals and upcoming campus events.
Last week, veteran journalist and current Snedden Endowed Chair of Journalism Paula Dobbyn, who holds more than three decades of experience, lectured on the power of local journalism and the state of the industry today.
Last Friday the annual Ice Jam competition was held on the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ ice tower. Competitors had toto score the fastest time climbing the tower or juggle their way up in the technical dry tool wall. The theme this year was Hawaii, intending to bring some warm and sunny vibes to a record-setting cold winter.
On March 2, the mother and stepmother of Gabrielle Venora Petito came to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to discuss what the warning signs are of domestic violence. The two were going on a tour visiting several schools in Alaska to share Gabby’s story and raise domestic violence awareness.
Over the weekend, athletes from the University of Alaska Fairbanks ski, rifle and swim teams took part in the NCAA Championships. With four All-Americans and two individual titles, the Nanooks presented a successful end of the NCAA season.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ hockey team ended the 2025-26 season winning the first edition of the United Collegiate Hockey Cup 4-3 against Lindenwood. The Nanooks took home the tournament trophy after a tight final game ending in overtime on March 7. This is their second title of 2026 after the Alaska Airlines Governor’s Cup win against Anchorage.
In February UAF’s Nordic skier Rosie Fordham competed at the XXV Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. She took part in 5 out of the 6 events dedicated to nordic skiing for the Australian team. Fordham sat down with The Sun Star to reflect on her training process, Fairbanks’ upsides and downsides, and offered insights on ways UAF could support the development of its endurance athletes.
One of the most common questions we get at ASUAF is some version of "what do you guys actually do?" A lot of what student government does happens behind closed doors: advocating for individual students, pushing policy, and representing the student body in rooms most students never see. One of the biggest examples of that is our ongoing advocacy to the Alaska Legislature and our recent trip to Juneau. So we want to pull back the curtain a bit, because "student government went to Juneau" probably sounds like an abstract thing that doesn't affect you. It very much does.
A letter from the Alaska Press Club Board: We should not accept these actions by Carpenter Media as normal. They threaten the ability of journalists to serve as watchdogs for our communities.
We will always defend editorial independence, transparency and the right of Alaska’s journalists to do their work free from intimidation.
Over the past few years, Russian and Chinese incursions into U.S. territory have become more frequent and more brazen. On September 24, 2025, multiple Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 “Bear” long-range bombers and Su-35 fourth-generation fighters, breached the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
Lil Jit: December 12, 2024 to September 18, 2025
On a cold winter night, with a sliver of moon high above, peeking through wisps of cloud, a small bundle of joy came into our lives. White as the snow beneath our feet, with eyes red like glowing embers, we gave him a name worthy of his spirit: Lil Jit.
Fireweed Collective Fairbanks released their voter guide for the 2025 Fairbanks North Star Borough Municipal Election.
