Yessenia Funes

Earther

Sorry, The Lion King’s ‘Circle of Life’ Doesn’t Exist in the Natural World

The Lion King offers a number of lessons around innocence, deception, and love. However, one of my favorite takeaways from the movie—both the original and the remake—is the so-called Circle of Life. We all know the term, made famous by the classic song by the same title. In the movie, Mufasa, the king of the … Continued

Earther

U.S. Beaches Are So Full of Sewage Pollution, They’re Often Unsafe for Swimming, New Report Finds

I don’t go to the beach for the sand or the sun. I go for the waves. There’s nothing like splashing in the water after lugging your cooler, chair, and beach umbrella to your designated spot. Unfortunately, I may need to think twice about going for a swim at the beach. And so should you. … Continued

EartherConservation

Scientists Just Discovered a 310-Mile Coral Reef Corridor in the Gulf of Mexico

In the Gulf of Mexico, scientists have found five new coral reefs forming a so-called coral reef corridor. The team of scientists from the University of Veracruz and Mexico’s National Institute of Technology announced their findings earlier this month, reminding us there’s still so much we don’t know about the underwater world. The five coral … Continued

EartherConservation

The Extinction Crisis Keeps Getting More Dire, With 28,000 Species At-Risk

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updated its Red List of Threatened Species last week—and habitat loss, hunting, and climate change continue to push species toward the brink of extinction. The group has added more than 7,000 species to its Red List update, more than 1,000 of which are threatened. The list now … Continued

EartherEnvironmental Justice

This Week’s Brutal U.S. Heat Wave Could Be a Killer

The sweltering heat outside is not only annoying as hell; it’s downright dangerous. There’s no better time to sit inside with the air conditioner blasting—except that our collective need for artificial cooling may also push local power grids over the edge into a blackout similar to what New York City experienced earlier this week. And, … Continued

EartherConservation

In First Half of July, the Amazon Lost Nearly 400 Square Miles of Forest

The Brazilian Amazon Rainforest is experiencing serious devastation under the country’s new far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. The month of July isn’t even over, and it’s already experienced 68 percent more deforestation than the entire month of July in 2018, reports Reuters. Amazonia has lost nearly 400 square miles of forest in the first 15 days … Continued

EartherEnvironmental Justice

Hundreds of Astronomers Denounce Arrest of Native Hawaiians Protesting Thirty Meter Telescope

All week, opponents to the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) have been putting their bodies on the line to prevent construction from starting on top of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea. Now these opponents, who are largely Native Hawaiian, are finding allies among an unlikely group: astronomers, including those whose research would benefit from the giant new telescope. … Continued

EartherClimate Change

Joshua Trees Are Being Wiped Out by Climate Change

Climate change is set to kill off most of our nation’s Joshua trees by the end of the century, according to a recent study. While some Joshua trees will hang on if humans rapidly lower their carbon emissions, if no action is taken to stop climate change we’ll lose nearly all of these iconic spiky … Continued

EartherEnvironmental Justice

Hundreds of Protestors Block Work Crews Ahead of Thirty Meter Telescope Construction in Hawaii [Updated]

Construction preparation for what is supposed to be one of the world’s biggest and most powerful telescopes was set to begin Monday in Hawaii, but opponents aren’t making it easy. A great deal of controversy has surrounded the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) because of where scientists want to place it: Mauna Kea, … Continued

EartherEarth Science

Another Thing Killing Coral Reefs: Our Poop

It’s no secret that corals are dying at an alarming rate. While climate change heating up the oceans is understood to be screwing over corals, a new study points fingers at a different culprit: pollution. Published in the journal Marine Biology Monday, the study used 30 years’ worth of data to conclude that nutrient pollution … Continued

EartherEarth Science

Paradise, California, Has Lost More Than 90 Percent of Its Residents Since Last Year’s Deadly Fire

The Camp Fire destroyed the town of Paradise, California, last year. Since then, the community has struggled to rebuild. In fact, more than 90 percent of Paradise residents never returned, according to new numbers from the governor’s office. Now, the town is officially a “rural area,” which opens the door for more federal assistance to … Continued

EartherClimate Change

Your Binge-Watching of Netflix and Porn Is Contributing to Millions of Tons of Emissions a Year

Most days when I get home from work, I kick off my shoes and cozy up with some Netflix. Video streaming is kind of my go-to when I want to relax—and I’m far from alone. Each year, our collective video streaming results in carbon emissions equivalent to the entire country of Spain, a new report … Continued

EartherEnvironmental Justice

Controversial Telescope Starts Construction on Sacred Hawaiian Mountain Next Week

The controversial Thirty Meter Telescope is set break ground on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea on the week of July 15, after about a decade of delays due to local opposition. Opponents, who have been mostly Native Hawaiians, argue that Mauna Kea, the mountain where this new state-of-the-art telescope is set to gaze into space, has already … Continued

EartherEarth Science

New Orleans Faces a Major Flood Threat as Tropical Storm Barry Approaches [Updating]

Tropical Storm Barry just officially formed this morning, but water is already bearing down on New Orleans. The situation looks bad, to say the least, and we at Earther will be following it closely as the city and state of Louisiana prepare for what is forecasted to become a hurricane by the weekend. New Orleans, … Continued

EartherEnvironmental Justice

For the Second Time in Six Months, a Mining Ship Has Polluted This World-Famous Reef

Months after a cargo ship ran aground and began spilling heavy fuel near Rennell Island’s world-famous coral reef, another ship has reportedly spilled more than 5,500 tons of bauxite, the ore mined for aluminum, in the same location in the Solomon Islands. The spill occurred July 1, according to the Guardian, turning Kangava Bay’s typically … Continued

EartherClimate Change

How to Keep Your Home Cool Without Wrecking the Planet

Summertime is officially here, baby. You know what that means: long days, beach tans, and wild ass energy bills. Keeping cool don’t come cheap—not for your pocket and definitely not for the planet. That doesn’t have to be the case, though. This summer can be your moment to flex your green muscle. You don’t have … Continued

EartherEarth Science

More Than a Million Ordered to Evacuate as Southern Japan Braces for a Month of Rain in a Single Day

More than 1 million people are being ordered to evacuate from southern Japan as an onslaught of rain threatens their safety. Nearly 6 inches of rain that fell Wednesday is set to cause mudslides and deadly floods, reports the Japan Times. And that amount is set to increase big time in the coming days. As … Continued

EartherClimate Change

Americans Love Their Trash and Hate to Recycle, Report Finds

The world has a trash problem, and a new report out Tuesday reminds us just how much Americans contribute. Turns out that while we create the most waste in the world, we’re one of the worst countries at recycling it. The report—published by Verisk Maplecroft, a global risk analysis group—looks at the waste generation and … Continued

EartherEarth Science

Worst Monsoon Rains in 14 Years Swamp Mumbai, Killing at Least 35

Monsoon season has already overwhelmed parts of India, including Mumbai. As of Tuesday, heavy rains have left some 35 people dead in the state of Maharashtra where the city of 18 million is located, according to the Times of India. Though torrential rains are always expected during the monsoon season, which begins in June and … Continued

EartherClimate Change

Another Top EPA Official Is Out Amid Ethics Scandal

The mastermind behind the Trump administration’s pro-coal alternative to Obama’s Clean Power Plan is out, reportedly another victim of an ethics scandal. The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that William Wehrum, the mercury-loving weirdo who ran the agency’s Office of Air and Radiation, is stepping down by the end of this month. Honestly, good riddance. … Continued