Each morning a vehicle containing hundreds of samples approaches an unassuming building located in UAF’s upper campus. As the packages are carefully handled and test tubes are collected, a meticulously coordinated system of scientists starts its daily routine: extracting viral genetic material, testing its contents, and reporting the results.
In a period of profound leadership changes in the University of Alaska system, with the search for a new UA president and UAF chancellor open, the College of Liberal Arts is coming close to finishing the dean search.
As students prepare to travel home, high fuel and energy prices squeeze Fairbanksians. The ongoing conflict in Iran has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping corridor off the Arabian peninsula. The Strait of Hormuz is critical to the global energy supply, with approximately 20% of the world’s crude oil passing through it.
Alaska Native language advocates clashed with University of Alaska leaders again over the future of the Alaska Native Language Center, warning lawmakers that the state’s Indigenous languages are on the brink of extinction.
Hosted over two different days last weekend at SpringFest, the Drama Association welcomed people to come view their show, the Extravaganza 2026: Humans Making Art. Their aim with this show was to showcase humans in their natural habit, creative and making art.
At their second-to-last meeting of the academic year, the Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks updated bills, bylaw sections and discussed the budget for fiscal year 2027.
The Casey Smith Project, a Fairbanks-based indie and R&B band, released a new single called “Can’t Pick Up the Phone” ahead of their performance at SpringFest this last weekend; it blends soul influences with indie rock. The song is about leaving past relationships behind when “everything's kind of scattered and you don't have it together.”
Outside Arctic Java April 17, one could hear loud shouts of praise or annoyance, and jaunty, medieval music surrounding the vicinity. Upon closer inspection, there were smiling faces around tables with plastic swords ready to be picked up by adventurous jousters.
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.
