Latest news with #Fairbanks
Forbes
3 days ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Update: Aurora May Be Visible In Nearly Half Of States Sunday
Twenty-one states may be able to see the northern lights Sunday night into Monday, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and severe geomagnetic storms are likely. Northern lights illuminate the sky in Fairbanks, Alaska United States on March 27, 2025. The forecast for the aurora borealis Sunday night has a Kp index of seven on a scale of nine, meaning the lights will 'become quite bright and active' and visible from the northern edge of the U.S. People as far south as Nebraska and Iowa may have a chance at seeing the northern lights Sunday night, as well as people in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The northern lights can be seen when geomagnetic activity causes ions to collide with atmospheric gases from Earth, causing visible displays. The three-day forecast from NOAA says G4, or severe, geomagnetic storms are likely Sunday into Monday as the result of a coronal mass ejection, or explosion of plasma and magnetic field, that left the sun on Saturday. The lights may be visible from Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, most of Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa and New York, and about half of Oregon, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Northern lights forecast for Sunday, June 1. NOAA recommends viewing the northern lights from an unobstructed, north-facing vantage point that is far from light pollution, moon light and city lights. The aurora is typically most visible from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time as that's when geomagnetic activity is highest, and the best seasons to view the lights are around the spring and fall equinoxes. If one is using a traditional camera to capture the northern lights, NASA recommends a wide-angle lens and tripod to help capture quick-moving elements of the aurora. If using a smartphone camera, NASA suggests turning on night mode, long exposure times and a tripod to keep the photos steady. The strong northern lights forecast continues into Monday night, when there's a predicted Kp index of five on the scale of nine and about thirteen states are in the viewline. The northern lights have been more regularly visible for months as the sun's 11-year cycle reached a 'solar maximum' in 2024, increasing the rate of solar fares, coronal mass ejections and other geomagnetic activity that make the lights visible. Scientists expect the increased solar activity to continue into next year and then start decreasing through 2030. Northern Lights Forecast: These 10 States Could See Aurora Borealis Tonight (Forbes) Get Ready For 50 Years Of Intense Northern Lights, Scientists Say (Forbes) Aurora Borealis Displays Hit A Record In 2024—Here's Where To Watch Northern Lights In 2025 (Forbes)
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s former NYC home re-lists for $1.2M
A Manhattan apartment once home to Hollywood royalty is back on the market — this time with a starring role in the discount department. The former Park Avenue residence of actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr. has re-listed for $1.2 million, a drop from its original $1.75 million ask when it debuted in 2023. The 2,100-square-foot co-op, located in the storied Beekman building, has appeared on and off the market over the past several months, undergoing a series of price reductions. Advertisement 12 A historic Park Avenue apartment once home to screen legend Douglas Fairbanks Jr. has hit the market for $1.2 million, down from its original $1.75 million ask in October 2023. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network 12 The home occupies 2,100 square feet. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network Fairbanks — known for swashbuckling roles on screen and high-society connections off it — once hosted luminaries such as Sir Laurence Olivier, Rex Harrison and the Duke of Wellington in the apartment's expansive, south-facing living room. Advertisement That same room now serves as the showpiece of the home, bathed in natural light and designed for entertaining, with space for more than a dozen guests. Despite his success in show business, Fairbanks revealed in a 1989 interview with the New York Times from this apartment that his most meaningful years came when he fought in World War I. 12 Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Getty Images 12 The library. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network Advertisement 12 Notable features include herringbone wood floors, 9-foot ceilings, a marble fireplace imported from England, and a grand living room where Fairbanks once entertained the likes of Sir Laurence Olivier and the Duke of Wellington. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network 'I believe I was the first film actor to enter the war and probably the last one to come back,' Fairbanks said. 'It was six years of very fulfilling active duty. When it was over, I was told that the public had forgotten me and that it would be very hard to get back into films. But luck brought me 'Sinbad the Sailor,' and it hit the jackpot.' The three-bedroom, three-bath residence is rich in architectural detail and historic charm. A formal foyer with herringbone floors leads into a library designed with classic sensibilities. Pocket doors open to a flexible adjacent room with its own ensuite bath, a marble fireplace imported from England and built-in storage. Advertisement 12 Photos give a glimpse of history. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network 12 The living room features built-in bookshelves. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network 12 The midcentury kitchen. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network The primary bedroom is privately tucked away in its own wing and features two walk-in closets, a windowed bathroom, and ample space for a seating area or a desk, the listing notes. Though the building dates to 1927, certain interiors have been thoroughly updated, according to the listing. The time-capsule kitchen, meanwhile, features appliances and storage — while the apartment overall offers five walk-in closets and a bonus room that could serve as an office, an expanded bathroom or oversized dressing space. The Beekman, originally developed as a hotel, retains many of its hospitality-focused perks. Maintenance fees include daily housekeeping and utilities, and residents have access to a gym, laundry facilities, and a full-time doorman and concierge services. A new restaurant by acclaimed chef Daniel Boulud is set to open in the building's ground-floor commercial space. Two private storage cages transfer with the apartment. 12 One of three bedrooms. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network Advertisement 12 One of three bathrooms. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network 12 A second bedroom. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network 12 A second bathroom. Nikola Strbac/The Real Estate Production Network Located in one of the Upper East Side's most desirable pockets, near Central Park and Madison Avenue shopping, the home offers a rare blend of cinematic provenance and full-service convenience. Advertisement A fixture of Hollywood's Golden Age, Fairbanks starred in adventure classics like 'The Prisoner of Zenda,' 'Gunga Din' and 'The Corsican Brothers.' The son of silent film legend Douglas Fairbanks and stepson of screen icon Mary Pickford, the younger Fairbanks was born into cinematic royalty. His personal life was equally high-profile — his first marriage was to actress Joan Crawford. Pamela Marcus, Amy Goldberger and Savannah Likitsakos of Corcoran and Amy Goldberger of Compass hold the listing in a co-exclusive.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- Science
- CTV News
NASA confirms two major solar flares on sun, which can cause blackouts on Earth
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of a solar flare — seen as the bright flash on the left – on May 14. The image shows a subset of extreme ultraviolet light that highlights the extremely hot material in flares and which is colorized in red. (NASA/SDO) NASA confirmed two solar flares erupting on the surface of the sun last week, an event that they say can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals and pose risks to spacecrafts and astronauts in the orbit. The first flare occurred May 13 at 11:38 a.m. EDT, and was recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. Classified as an X1.2 flare, NASA says the 'X-class denotes the most intense flares.' The second solar flare, peaking at 4:25 a.m. EDT on May 14, was also recorded by the Solar Dynamics Observatory. This flare was classified as an X2.7 flare. The flares occurred on sunspot AR4087, an extremely active region on the sun. Space photographer Vincent Ledvina, who studies space physics at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, reacted with a 'wow' when studying the flare ups. 'This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view,' Ledvina said on social media. What are 'solar storms'? A solar storm is a sudden explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields and material blasted into the solar system by the sun, NASA explains. A solar storm is caused due to a 'tangled mess of magnetic fields' created by the sun. According to NASA, these magnetic fields get twisted up as the sun rotates – with its equator rotating faster than its poles. 'Solar storms typically begin when these twisted magnetic fields on the sun get contorted and stretched so much that they snap and reconnect (in a process called magnetic reconnection), releasing large amounts of energy,' the space agency said. A solar storm can create major disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field, called a geomagnetic storm, the space agency's website reads. This storm can cause radio blackouts, power outages and beautiful auroras brought on by coronal mass ejections (CME), which occurs when charged solar particles pass through the Earth's atmosphere. What are 'solar flares'? A solar flare is an intense burst of radiation or light on the sun, according to the space agency. 'These flashes span the electromagnetic spectrum – including X-rays, gamma rays, radio waves and ultraviolet and visible light,' NASA said. Solar flares are the most powerful explosions in the solar system — the biggest ones can have as much energy as 'a billion hydrogen bombs,' according to NASA. Solar flares are classified as A, B, C, M and X – with X being the strongest flare and A being the weakest. 'The energy from a flare travels at the speed of light, which means it reaches Earth about eight minutes after a flare happens,' NASA said. 'Essentially, by the time we see a flare, most of its effects are here.' Solar flare Material rises from the edge of the sun, as seen in extreme ultraviolet light by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. (NASA/SDO) However, the harmful radiation from a flare does not affect us on the ground since we are shielded by Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field. But a strong flare can disrupt communications that pass through the upper atmosphere and affect satellites and other spacecrafts. 'There are five sunspot regions on the Earth-facing disc, however these are mostly small, simple and with little sign of growth,' the Met Office said in its latest space weather forecast. 'The most notable is in the north-centre, however this is overall much simpler and less active than a few days ago.' Another strong solar flare was recorded previously by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, peaking at 11:38 a.m. EDT on May 13. This flare is classified as an X1.2 flare, NASA says. The most powerful flare ever measured was recorded in 2003 as an X28, before NASA's sensors were overwhelmed by it. CTV News previously wrote that NASA had warned of potential blackouts on Earth due to these specific solar flares. However, NASA has said that solar flares can cause blackouts on Earth.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Most state services will see no new funding in final Alaska state budget draft
The Alaska State Capitol is seen behind a curtain of blooming branches on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) There will be no extra money for the University of Alaska's sports teams, its effort to become a top-tier research university or its attempts to hire and keep staff. On Friday, the legislative committee assigned to write the final version of Alaska's state operating budget axed all of those items — and many more — from its in-progress draft. Alaska is facing a severe budget crunch, thanks to low oil prices and reduced federal spending, and lawmakers are eliminating almost every previously considered addition, even before Gov. Mike Dunleavy gets a chance to use his veto pen. Flat funding, combined with inflation, means cuts for most state services. The Permanent Fund dividend isn't immune, either. It's expected to be about $1,000 this year, the lowest figure in state history, once adjusted for inflation. 'It's just a really challenging time, and there's a lot of volatility, and Alaska's heavily dependent upon federal funds,' said Sen. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks. 'We don't have that huge buffer of oil and gas funds that we once did.' Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, appeared resigned to the decisions when asked for comment. 'It is what it is,' he said. Among the university's budget cuts is $150,000 for a staff member to help the university's efforts on diversity, equity and inclusion. The University's Board of Regents voted earlier this year to cancel DEI efforts, including those intended to help Alaska Native students. 'We obviously are cut down to the bone if we're talking about individual, singular positions in the budget, and the board of regents has taken a position that's alternative to what I think the UA community broadly wants to see happen, so it puts our Legislature as an appropriating body in a really difficult position making those kinds of decisions,' said Rep. Ashley Carrick, D-Fairbanks. The budget maneuvering isn't restricted to the University of Alaska. At the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, legislators have cut road maintenance spending and have requested a report on the feasibility of turning the Dalton Highway — Alaska's overland link to the North Slope — into a toll road. A plan to put more Alaska state troopers in Kotzebue to fight child abuse crimes was only partially funded, and $2.3 million for additional trooper overtime was trimmed to $1 million. The conference committee, in charge of combining different budget drafts approved by the state House and Senate, may also cancel plans for additional state and wildlife troopers in Talkeetna. Legislators are asking DPS to begin meeting with the Kenai, Fairbanks and Matanuska-Susitna boroughs about setting up local police in those areas in order to replace troopers. 'It is the intent of the legislature to direct public safety funds to areas of the state that do not have the tax base to provide needed policing services to their communities,' the latest budget draft states. A few budget increases remain — $250,000 more for maintenance at the state's trial courts, $292,000 more for security screening of legislative mail, and additional state funding for Alaska's forestry program as part of an effort to increase logging. For the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development, the conference committee approved backstop funding for public schools in case Dunleavy vetoes House Bill 57, which would permanently increase the state's per-student funding formula. The backstop language includes a one-time bonus that's slightly smaller than the increase included within HB 57. That increase is itself lower than the rate of inflation. The committee declined to increase funding for special education, child nutrition, early education, and state libraries, archives and museums. But lawmakers did approve an increase for career and technical education initiatives. They temporarily postponed a decision on items related to foreign teacher recruitment and training, at the request of Sen. James Kaufman, R-Anchorage. Those may be taken up as soon as Sunday. The committee approved $5.5 million for child advocacy centers, which support child victims of physical and sexual abuse. That money was added after the federal government cut funding for the centers. For the state prison system, the budget directs the closure of part of Spring Creek Correctional Center and directs the Alaska Department of Corrections to prepare a report for the Legislature evaluating which prisons would provide the most cost savings if closed. Budget negotiators also rejected increased funding for vocational training programs intended to aid Alaskans who leave the prison system. Several items are still being debated, and the conference committee was scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. Sunday to finalize the compromise budget draft. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Three Landing Spots for Rays Closer After Recent Trade Prediction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With it appearing that the New York Yankees may run away with the AL East division championship, the rest of the teams in the division may need to start plan on being sellers at this season's trade deadline. That includes the Tampa Bay Rays, who have been predicted by Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter as sellers, with their most likely trade piece being closer Pete Fairbanks. If the Rays do decide to move him, here are three potential landing spots. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 16: Pete Fairbanks #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after a strike out ends the game for the 8-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 16,... ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 16: Pete Fairbanks #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after a strike out ends the game for the 8-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 16, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. MoreAtlanta Braves Atlanta has been one of the best stories in baseball over the last month, as it has scratched and clawed back to a .500 record after beginning the year 0-7. A bit of a weak spot still for the Braves is the bullpen. Rasiel Iglesias is the current closer in Atlanta and he is having one of the worst seasons of his career. Iglesias has a 5.71 ERA and is 7-for-10 on save chances. He's already allowed six home runs this season, two more than he allowed all of last season in 69 1/3 innings pitched. Making a move for Fairbanks would allow Iglesias to move to the 8th inning role and regain his confidence before what Atlanta hopes is a deep postseason run this season. Chicago Cubs Chicago has been one of the best teams in all of baseball this season, and if it had a halfway decent bullpen, it would be considered a true contender in the National League. The offseason acquisition of Ryan Pressly has not worked out the way the Cubs had hoped it would. He has a 6.91 ERA and just seven strikeouts in 16 appearances and 14 1/3 innings pitched. The acquisition of a closer feels like a much-needed move and Fairbanks could fill that need nicely and help improve a Chicago bullpen that ranks No. 28 in Wins Above Average from relief pitchers. San Francisco Giants San Francisco already has one of the best bullpens in the league and the addition of Fairbanks to that bullpen would make the Giants true competitors to the Padres and Dodgers in the NL West. Fairbanks could join a bullpen that ranks third in Wins Above Average from relief pitchers and features both Camilio Doval (1.37 ERA, five saves) and Ryan Walker (seven saves). It is unclear if San Francisco is looking for bullpen help and if they are, Fairbanks could be a viable option for a team hoping to win its first division title since 2021. More MLB: How to Buy Boston Red Sox "Green Monster" 2025 City Connect Jerseys, Hats, Gear
