Latest news with #Alaska
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Thousands of lightning strikes spark dozens of new wildland fires around Alaska
Jun. 19—Lightning, wind and warmth have sparked and fueled dozens of new wildland fires around Alaska, including several near communities. Nearly 50 new fires were reported across the state Tuesday and Wednesday following widespread thunderstorms. The 20-acre Obrien Fire north of Fairbanks was spotted Tuesday and by Wednesday prompted the closure of the western portion of the White Mountains National Recreation Area, according to the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service. The closure includes trails, public-use cabins, trail shelters and the Wickersham Dome Trailhead at Mile 28 of the Elliott Highway. The fire has the potential to reach the Summit Trail within the next 24 hours and could soon threaten public use cabins, fire officials said. Near Fairbanks, two lightning-caused fires were burning near each other northwest of the Salcha River, according to the Alaska Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fires, estimated Wednesday at 40 and 25 acres, were "expected to grow closer together" as burning continues, officials said. The fires prompted Fairbanks North Star Borough officials on Wednesday night to issue a "ready" evacuation order for the Salcha River corridor starting at the community of Salcha along the Richardson Highway. Under 20 people live in the area though there are more than 250 structures, according to a borough map. Earlier in the week, borough officials issued similar orders — recommending residents monitor emergency information and be prepared — for areas of Chena Hot Springs Road. Crews are working to build a perimeter around a small fire two miles north of Mile 24 of the road. Another, larger fire north of the Yukon River and directly across from Rampart was estimated at 200 acres "and growing fast" on Wednesday night when smokejumpers arrived, according to Bureau of Land Management fire service officials. The smokejumpers opted against taking direct action due to the fire's intensity and late time of day, officials said in a release. "Instead, they are working closely with the community to evaluate what additional resources may be needed in the coming days to protect Rampart and several Alaska Native allotments on both sides of the river." Other new wildfires include two lightning-caused blazes about 25 miles northwest of Huslia near a few cabins, BLM fire officials said. Tuesday was the most active lightning day across the state this season and since 2021, with more than 15,700 strikes, according to the Alsaka Interagency Coordination Center. As of Thursday morning, 24 new fires were burning around the state and more than 80 considered active, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
CYBER Express Wash Debuts in Alaska with a Bold Mission to Redefine Car Care -- and a Model Built to Scale
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CYBER Express Wash, the fast-rising disruptor in the $15B+ car wash industry, officially opened its premiere location this weekend in Anchorage, Alaska — unveiling a future-facing, hospitality-first model that reimagines modern car care. The grand opening welcomed community leaders, media, and investors, with Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance joining for a private ribbon-cutting and behind-the-scenes tour celebrating over 90 new jobs added to the local economy. The weekend celebration gave guests a front-row seat to the full CYBER experience including a first look at the brand's striking architectural design, seamless customer journey, and proprietary wash + express detail system engineered for speed, consistency, and scale. Proceeds from the day supported local youth mentorship through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, reinforcing CYBER's commitment to community impact. Outside, a curated car show showcased vintage Corvettes, Mustangs, and Porsches alongside fan-favorite SRTs and a show-stopping Mercedes-Maybach— honoring not just clean cars, but the connection, community, and culture that drive them. The Anchorage flagship marks more than just a grand opening, it sets the tone for a category-defining brand built with national expansion in mind. Built to withstand Alaska's extreme conditions, CYBER's complete operating model was designed to meet high consumer expectations in one of the most demanding environments in the country. "We launched in Alaska by choice, not chance," said Paul Horstkoetter, Founder and CEO. "Alaska forces you to solve for real-world conditions — extreme weather, demanding roads, high customer standards. If we can build something remarkable here, we can do it anywhere." With multiple sites already secured across Alaska, including one set to break ground this summer, CYBER is actively planning multi-location expansion and evaluating strategic growth markets beyond the state. "We didn't build CYBER to compete with the car wash down the street," said Paul Horstkoetter. "We built it to set a new national standard — one rooted in speed, sophistication, and service — and designed to scale." From proprietary software and custom equipment to optimized chemistry and next-gen detailing, every element of CYBER is intentionally engineered to elevate the guest experience and protect vehicle integrity — all while maintaining obsessive operational precision and environmental responsibility. Backed by a leadership team with deep expertise in development, infrastructure, operations, brand, and finance, CYBER is not just raising the bar— it's setting a new one. From repeatable systems and elevated service standards to local job creation and national scalability, CYBER is designed for lasting impact. The CYBER model: 3-minute, high-tech exterior wash with AI driven LPR Alaska's only 10-minute express detail center — no appointment needed Design-forward architecture and a concierge-inspired experience Exclusive Graphene coating delivering luxury-grade protection — the new standard Custom-engineered software & equipment for precision, efficiency, and performance Sustainability-first systems reclaiming 70–80 percent of wash water What makes CYBER different? A focus on hospitality as advanced as its tech. A consumer brand identity built more like luxury retail than auto service. A leadership team with deep expertise in brand strategy, development, and operational rigor. And a mission that centers local ownership, high-quality jobs, and long-term regional investment. The Anchorage location is already being recognized as the third-largest and most advanced express wash in the U.S., but it's only the beginning. The brand is actively fielding investor interest and partnership inquiries drawn to CYBER's fully integrated model to scale both regionally and nationally as it builds toward multi-location expansion, operational excellence, and high customer retention across new markets. "The response from the community and the industry at large has been overwhelming," said Stephanie Horstkoetter, Chief Brand Officer. "People don't just want clean cars anymore. They want a luxury experience they're proud to be a part of. We've built CYBER to deliver both." ABOUT CYBER EXPRESS WASHCYBER Express is a new category of car care — blending speed, sophistication, and hospitality into one elevated experience. Focused on elevated service, express interior detail, and state-of-the-art design, CYBER is Alaska's first hospitality-first express wash and the only express detail center in the state, a full-stack brand system designed to scale nationwide. Rooted in a deep respect for automotive culture and driven by a commitment to innovation, integrity, and sustainability, CYBER exists for those who expect more. Learn more at along for opening day teasers & behind-the-scenes updates at @cyberexpresswash Media + Investor Inquiries: pr@ + Video Assets Available Upon Request View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CYBER Express Wash Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Tiny galaxies may have helped our universe out of its dark ages, JWST finds
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Evidence continues to assemble that dwarf galaxies played a larger role in shaping the early universe than previously thought. Astronomers analyzing data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have uncovered a population of tiny, energetic galaxies that may have been key players in clearing the cosmic fog that shrouded the universe after the Big Bang. "You don't necessarily need to look for more exotic features," Isak Wold, an assistant research scientist at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C., told reporters during the 246th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Alaska. "These tiny but numerous galaxies could produce all the light needed for reionization." About 380,000 years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled enough for charged particles to combine into neutral hydrogen atoms, creating a thick, light-absorbing fog, an era known as the cosmic dark ages. It wasn't until several hundred million years later, with the birth of the first stars and galaxies, that intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation began reionizing this primordial hydrogen. That process gradually cleared the dense fog, allowing starlight to travel freely through space and illuminating the cosmos for the first time. For decades, astronomers have debated what triggered this dramatic transformation. The leading candidates included massive galaxies, quasars powered by black holes, and small, low-mass galaxies. New data from the JWST now points strongly to the smallest contenders, suggesting these tiny galaxies acted like cosmic flashlights lighting up the early universe. To identify these early galaxies, Wold and his colleagues focused on a massive galaxy cluster called Abell 2744, or Pandora's Cluster, located about 4 billion light-years away in the constellation Sculptor. The immense gravity of this cluster acts as a natural magnifying glass, bending and amplifying light coming from much more distant, ancient galaxies behind it. Tapping into this quirk of nature, combined with the JWST's powerful instruments, the researchers peered nearly 13 billion years back in time. Using the JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), the team searched for a specific green emission line from doubly ionized oxygen, a hallmark of intense star formation. This light was originally emitted in the visible range but was stretched into the infrared as it traveled through the expanding universe, according to a NASA statement. The search yielded 83 tiny, starburst galaxies, all vigorously forming stars when the universe was just 800 million years old, around 6% of its current age. "Our analysis [...] shows they existed in sufficient numbers and packed enough ultraviolet power to drive this cosmic renovation," Wold said in the statement. Today, similar primitive galaxies, such as so-called "green pea" galaxies, are rare but known to release roughly 25% of their ionizing UV radiation into surrounding space. If early galaxies functioned in the same way, Wold said, they would have generated enough light to reionize the hydrogen fog and make the universe transparent. "When it comes to producing ultraviolet light, these small galaxies punch well above their weight," he said in the statement.
Forbes
15 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Richest Cities In Alaska, Based On The Latest Census Data
Recently, a series of studies have been analyzing and identifying the richest cities in states across the country. Some of the most recent studies have included the wealthiest cities in Indiana, Montana, Oregon, Washington state, among others. It was decided to keep going with this Pacific Northwest trajectory and analyze Alaska next. This study analyzed 111 cities in Alaska with complete data from the Census Bureau, in terms of their median household income, mean (average) household income, median home value, and median property taxes paid per year, to come up with a list of the 15 richest cities in the state. Read on to find out what the richest city in Alaska is, plus the top 15 wealthiest cities in the state overall. In order to compile this list of the richest cities in Alaska, important financial data from the Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey was sourced. With these chosen data points, a four-factor scoring system was constructed: You should be aware of a few oddities that the Census Bureau does with its data. For certain factors, the Census sets upper limits on the numbers, so there's no exact value for certain factors. Take for example median household income: The Census Bureau has an upper limit of '$250,000+', and will list exact values only for figures below that. For median home value, the upper limit is '$2,000,000+'. For median property taxes paid, the upper limit is '$10,000+'. For these reasons, the mean household income (which is the same as average household income) dataset is crucial because the Census Bureau has exact figures for it. All four of these metrics were scored, added up, and then ranked by the cities' combined scores. Another aspect of the Census to point out, and is particularly relevant to Alaska, is the Census-designated place — CDP. The Census, more or less, treats CDPs as cities — their terminology is 'place' — and so will this list of the richest cities in Alaska. But if you see cities on this list that you see as, say, neighborhoods, you're not wrong; they just happen to be treated as cities by the Census Bureau. You'll find a table detailing the top 15 richest cities in Alaska and their respective dollar figures for each metric, below: The No. 1 richest city in Alaska in this ranking is Gateway, a CDP a little under 40 miles northeast of Anchorage. There's a little over 2,000 households in this suburb. More than 30% of households in this town earn $200,000 or more. The average household income in Gateway is the highest in the state, at $166,988. The median household income is $137,150 is the third highest. The median home value, as reported by the Census Bureau, is $436,200, which is among the top five. The property taxes paid, with the median being $4,993, is the highest in the state. The No. 2 richest city in Alaska is Chena Ridge, a suburb of Fairbanks, west of the city. Chena Ridge is a census-designated place and actually contains the ghost town of Chena, which used to be as important as Fairbanks back in the early 1900s. This town is of comparable size to the No. 1 richest city on this list, containing just under 2,300 total households. Chena Ridge's median household income is the highest in the state, at $140,722. The mean household income is $158,967. The occupational breakdown for Chena Ridge makes sense for a high-income town, with Management Occupations accounting for a fifth of the workforce, according to Data USA. The median home value here is $411,600, with corresponding property taxes being amongst the highest, with a median paid of $4,757. The third richest city in Alaska is Cooper Landing, which is due south of Anchorage, situated on Kenai Lake. This town doesn't have a large population. There are only 114 total households in Cooper Landing. The median household income here is just under the median income of Chena Ridge, at $140,500 versus $140,500. The average household income in Cooper Landing is actually less than the median, which is unusual, at $134,467. The median home value reported by the Census is $404,500. The median property taxes paid here is comparatively cheap among the richest cities, costing $3,313 per household a year.
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Alert: Some States Could See Aurora Borealis Thursday
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday some geomagnetic storms will likely disrupt Earth's magnetic field soon, which could make the northern lights visible in several states tonight. TK NOAA forecast a Kp index of five on a scale of nine for Thursday night, suggesting the northern lights will become brighter as they become more active while moving farther from the poles. Thursday's auroral forecast will likely increase through the night and into Friday morning, when some 'minor' or greater geomagnetic storms are expected, according to NOAA's three-day forecast. Calmer auroral activity is expected through Saturday night, with a maximum Kp index of just over three and two for Friday and Saturday, respectively, NOAA's projections suggest. The northern lights have the highest chance of being seen throughout Canada, with a minimal opportunity—marked by a 'view line'—forecast through northern Iowa and other northern states. A lesser chance is expected in northern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, with a near-zero chance forecast for parts of northern Wyoming, South Dakota, northern Iowa, northern New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. While Alaska is forecast with a high likelihood, the state won't be dark enough at the time. (See map below.) Thursday's view line. NOAA recommends traveling to the north and finding a high, north-facing vantage point away from light pollution. If in the right area in optimal weather conditions, the aurora borealis can be visible even with lower geomagnetic activity, including a Kp index of three or four, the agency said, noting the northern lights are best seen within at least two hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Photography experts told National Geographic a wide-angle lens and an aperture or F-stop of four or lower are recommended, though other settings like ISO and shutter speed will likely need to be adjusted depending on the strength of the aurora borealis. With a smartphone, the experts suggest using a tripod to stabilize the image long enough to capture the northern lights displays. They also recommend disabling flash and enabling night mode. An increase in northern lights displays throughout the U.S. follows a peak in solar activity reached in October 2024, NOAA and NASA said. This peak features more solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which produce the northern lights as electrons from these events collide with oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere. Though the northern lights can be seen throughout the year, they are most visible between late September and March when nights are longer, experts said.
