Eric Keto

From underneath the roads to inside our homes, insulation is everywhere in Alaska. But traditional foam board is energy intensive to produce and often ends up as plastic litter in oceans and waterways. A group of researchers at the University of Alaska Anchorage are working to develop an environmentally friendly alternative. Listen now

Alaska has the lowest fuel tax yet some of the highest gas prices. We asked Larry Persily, former federal coordinator for Alaska natural gas projects: Why is it so expensive to fill up the tank in Alaska?

Hundreds of landfills across the lower-48 have turned their decomposing trash piles into a source of energy. So far, there’s only one project in Alaska harnessing the power of trash to produce gas. Listen now

The Alaska Sealife Center has managed to reduce its carbon footprint and cut its annual utility bills in half. The secret: In 2008, the aquarium used state and federal grants to install a seawater heat pump system.

https://youtu.be/QxvDGDDWdYsAlaska has lost more than 2,000 jobs in the oil and gas industry since last year. One of those jobs belonged to Brad Campbell, who worked as a financial analyst at BP for more than 15 years.

https://youtu.be/97_iCcqC_OEHow exactly are sled dogs different from typical house dogs? Dr. Stuart Nelson, the Iditarod’s chief veterinarian, compares dogs to NFL players. On a pro team, the sled dogs would be the wide receivers.“They’re fast, they’re light on their feet. A lab would be more like a defensive tackle,” said Nelson.

The lives of the 1,300 sled dogs running now to Nome have led up to this moment as they race to against the world’s best dogs and wiliest mushers. Years of training come down to a couple short weeks of elite performance, sometimes running more than 100 miles per day.

https://youtu.be/Tf_6QV9Vtc4Thanks to a drop in both oil prices and production, Alaska is facing another major budget deficit this year. Cutting spending, raising taxes, and dipping into the Permanent Fund are all on the table in this video.

https://youtu.be/GjvqcXJeTz0With the help of high-powered telescopes around the world, scientists can observe and photograph far-flung astronomical phenomena. Dr. Travis Rector has been capturing images of distant galaxies and nebulae for over 20 years, and he recently completed a book explaining the techniques he uses to create the photos.

https://youtu.be/dHJhjoDj_hcGrowing up in Bird Creek, Heather Kelly learned all about the challenges associated with carrying your own food into the backcountry. After studying sports nutrition Outside, Heather returned to Alaska to launch her own line of dehydrated backpacking food. She recently held a local tasting event as a fundraiser aimed at expanding her business.