Posted inUncategorized

UA Museum of the North updates hours for spring and summer

As the days lengthen and temperatures rise, the University of Alaska Museum of the North is adjusting its hours to welcome spring and summer visitors. Beginning March 1, the museum will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays until 8 p.m. The museum's exhibits showcase the art, history, and cultures of Alaska and the circumpolar North. Visitors can explore a variety of exhibitions, including "Arctic Adaptations: Animals That Live in the Cold," "Resilience and Renewal: Alaska Native Art in Transition," and "Our Home, Our Stories," which features the Iñupiat history and culture of Alaska's North Slope. Admission to the museum is free for UAF students and staff, as well as for children under the age of 12. General admission for adults is $15, and seniors and youth (12-18) are $10.
Posted inUncategorized

Bonsai trees tell of winters long past

Dendrochronology is the scientific study of tree rings and how they can reveal historic climate data. Trees add a new growth ring each year, so by counting the rings and measuring their thickness, scientists can determine a tree's age and estimate the climate conditions they experienced during their lifetime. Recently, scientists at the University of Arizona used dendrochronology to study bonsai trees. These small, ornamental trees are often shaped and pruned to create miniature versions of their larger counterparts. The scientists found that the bonsai trees' growth rings contained detailed information about the winters they had experienced over the past few decades. This information can be used to reconstruct past climate conditions and understand how the climate has changed over time. By studying the growth rings of bonsai trees, scientists can get a glimpse into the long-term history of the local climate.