Yessenia Funes, Author at Gizmodo

Trump’s Plan to Scrap Mercury Regulations Won’t Save Coal But It Will Cost Lives

President Donald Trump is down with more mercury in the air if that’ll help the coal industry. According to the Washington Post, the Environmental Protection Agency sent a proposal to the White House Friday that suggests altering a rule regulating emissions of mercury—a potent neurotoxin—because the current regulations cost too much. None of this is…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Oct 3

Trump Wants to Roll Back Safety Regulations That Could Have Helped Prevent Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Nearly 10 years ago, an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, spilling millions of gallons of crude into the water. The notorious Deepwater Horizon, or BP, oil spill left 11 people dead and tens of thousands sick. But apparently, the disaster’s lessons haven’t hit home for the Trump administration. The Department of Interior…

Climate Change Yessenia Funes Oct 1

Ominous New Art Exhibit Shows Coral Reefs Transformed by Trash

Corals are some of the most stunning organisms to have graced the planet, but they’re almost incredibly threatened. Now, an artist has re-created their bright colors and squiggly formations in a manner that’s ominously appropriate for the 21st century: with plastic garbage. Opening to the public Friday at the Whitney Museum in New York City, Unexpected…

Climate Change Yessenia Funes Sep 28

Latin American Countries Sign Landmark Treaty to Protect Environmental Defenders

Latin America and the Caribbean finally have a treaty to help protect defenders of the environment. On Thursday, twelve countries—from Antigua to Mexico to Argentina—signed the Escazú Agreement during the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. A first-of-its-kind human rights treaty, the agreement gives community members in these countries more say over projects…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 27

A New Doll Celebrates Flint’s Biggest Little Activist

As a young girl I was obsessed with dolls. They’re all I wanted for birthdays and Christmases. These days, though, dolls have hit a whole new level. And oh, how I wish I could still enjoy endless hours playing with them, because a new doll is available for pre-order today—and she’s inspired by 11-year-old Mari…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 27

The Trump Administration Is Rolling Back Safety Regulations for Explosive Oil Trains

In Trump’s America, requiring flammable, oil-toting trains employ better braking systems apparently isn’t worth it. On Monday, the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration rolled back an Obama-era rule that was meant to improve the brake systems on “High Hazard Flammable Unit Trains” aka “bomb trains” as some environmentalists call them. These…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 25

Carbon Emissions Could Be Costing the US 8 Times What Trump’s EPA Estimates

The largest contributors to climate change also stand to lose the most, according to a new study that looks at the so-called “social cost” of carbon. Current U.S. leaders may think our country can withstand anything, but emitting carbon dioxide at the rate we do comes at a price. A measure of the impact climate…

Earth Science Yessenia Funes Sep 25

South Carolina Coast Braces For Worst Flooding Yet More Than a Week After Florence

Potentially record-breaking flood waters are set to inundate areas that didn’t see much flooding last week.

Earth Science Yessenia Funes Sep 24

A Hail Mary Attempt to Save the West’s Largest Coal Plant Has Failed

After a brief period of hope that it could be kept alive longer, the largest coal plant in the West is once again on track shut down at the end of 2019. The Navajo Nation, which is counting on the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) in Arizona to remain open, found potential buyers for the doomed facility back…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 21

California Is the First State to Declare War on Plastic Straws

The first statewide straw ban has arrived, folks. And—you guessed it—California is where it’s at. Governor Jerry Brown does not shy away from making his state first when it comes to environmental actions. That’s why he signed A.B. 1884, a bill that stops automatic service of straws at restaurants, on Thursday. It’s the kind of thing…

Conservation Yessenia Funes Sep 21

North Carolina Is Facing a Public Health Crisis After Florence

Hurricane Florence unleashed unfathomable amounts of disgusting—and dangerous—substances into the environment. There’s literal pig shit, animal carcasses, and coal ash. These are already entering floodwaters, and there’s likely more pollution to come. After all, flooding in the Carolinas may continue to worsen. All this isn’t just bad for the waterways and soil. It’s bad for…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 20

Trump’s Methane Rule Rollback Will Make More People Sick

On Tuesday, the Trump administration took the long-anticipated step of reversing an Obama-era rule that would’ve helped prevent leaking, venting, and flaring of methane from oil and gas operations. The rollback doesn’t just kill the final piece of Obama’s climate legacy—it could mean more air pollution entering vulnerable communities. Certain Native American reservations—like the Fort…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 19

The EPA Is Failing to Keep Students Safe From Asbestos: Report

The Environmental Protection Agency has been slacking when it comes to monitoring asbestos in schools. It did such a poor job between 2011 and 2015 that even its Office of Inspector General can’t protect its image. The inspector general’s office published a report Monday breaking down how badly the EPA has failed our children: The…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 18

These Nearly-Extinct Animals Would Fit on a Single Subway Car

Imagine hopping onto the New York City subway and seeing it packed with Christmas Island geckos or Burmese roofed turtles. This would never happen, obviously. The Christmas Island gecko is actually extinct in the wild, and the Burmese roofed turtle is endangered. That’s exactly why data journalist and artist Mona Chalabi included them in her…

Conservation Yessenia Funes Sep 18

The Strongest Storm of the Year Shook Southeast Asia This Weekend

Tropical Storm Mangkhut was on the move Monday as it made its way through Southeast Asia. The former Super Typhoon, which at its peak became the strongest storm to form on Earth this year so far, has been pummeling Hong Kong, Macau, and the Philippines all weekend. Heavy rainfall from has triggered landslides throughout northern…

Earth Science Yessenia Funes Sep 17

The World’s Largest Captive Lemur Facility Is Bracing For Florence

The folks over at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, North Carolina, are pros at hurricane preparedness. They have to be. Home to the largest number of lemurs in the world outside Madagascar, the Lemur Center’s got a serious responsibility in protecting the 240 lemurs that roam its facilities. The Duke Lemur Center could see…

Conservation Yessenia Funes Sep 14

RIP, Young Orca J-50

Today, we mourn. J-50, a 4-year-old female orca with the imperiled southern resident pod off the coast of Washington state, was presumed dead Thursday after a long health battle that spurred unprecedented governmental intervention. Officials with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) still plan to search for her, but their intensive searches Thursday turned…

Conservation Yessenia Funes Sep 14

Why These Environmentalists Are Protesting Jerry Brown’s Climate Summit

The Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS), which kicked off in San Francisco Wednesday, marks a major ratcheting up of the local and state-level revolution against the Trump administration’s backslide on climate action. The way Governor Jerry Brown—who launched the event—sees it, states like California don’t need the president to save the planet. All they need…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 13

Here’s What We Know About All That Bottled Water Abandoned in Puerto Rico [Updated]

The government’s mismanagement of the crisis Hurricane Maria wrought on Puerto Rico was once again thrust into the spotlight this week, when photos of a large number of bottled water pallets sitting derelict outside an airport in Ceiba went viral on social media. But while the public outcry was swift after CBS News Correspondent David…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 12

Civil Liberties Group Raises Concerns Over Potential Surveillance of Pipeline Protestors

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the federal government over suspicions that it’ll be working closely with local police departments and private security agencies to keep protests to a minimum as the Keystone XL Pipeline inches closer to reality. The group launched the lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court of Montana against…

Environmental Justice Yessenia Funes Sep 6

Yessenia Funes

Trump’s Plan to Scrap Mercury Regulations Won’t Save Coal But It Will Cost Lives

Trump Wants to Roll Back Safety Regulations That Could Have Helped Prevent Deepwater Horizon Disaster

Ominous New Art Exhibit Shows Coral Reefs Transformed by Trash

Latin American Countries Sign Landmark Treaty to Protect Environmental Defenders

A New Doll Celebrates Flint’s Biggest Little Activist

The Trump Administration Is Rolling Back Safety Regulations for Explosive Oil Trains

Carbon Emissions Could Be Costing the US 8 Times What Trump’s EPA Estimates

South Carolina Coast Braces For Worst Flooding Yet More Than a Week After Florence

A Hail Mary Attempt to Save the West’s Largest Coal Plant Has Failed

California Is the First State to Declare War on Plastic Straws

North Carolina Is Facing a Public Health Crisis After Florence

Trump’s Methane Rule Rollback Will Make More People Sick

The EPA Is Failing to Keep Students Safe From Asbestos: Report

These Nearly-Extinct Animals Would Fit on a Single Subway Car

The Strongest Storm of the Year Shook Southeast Asia This Weekend

The World’s Largest Captive Lemur Facility Is Bracing For Florence

RIP, Young Orca J-50

Why These Environmentalists Are Protesting Jerry Brown’s Climate Summit

Here’s What We Know About All That Bottled Water Abandoned in Puerto Rico [Updated]

Civil Liberties Group Raises Concerns Over Potential Surveillance of Pipeline Protestors

‘Secret Wars’ Is More Than Just an ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Sequel

The ‘Street Fighter’ Movie Knows What It Is

Trump, When Asked About White House Meeting with Anthropic’s Dario Amodei: ‘Who?’

‘The Batman, Part II’ Has Finally Found Two-Face’s Dad

TotalAV Keeps Prices Low While Covering the Basics of Online Protection

RAM Shortage Expected to Continue Into Next Year or Later

Marvel Studios’ Former Art Staff Discuss ‘Shortsighted’ Layoffs

Amazon Delivery Drones Involve a Perilous 10-Foot Drop. Users Are Posting the Apparent Results

Organ Transplants Without Lifelong Meds? New Trial Shows It’s Possible

The AI Doomers Who Are Playing With Fire

Alienware’s $350 QD-OLED Gaming Monitor Nixes Everything for a Pretty Screen

Sony Inzone H6 Air Review: A Perfect Case for Open-Back Gaming Headsets

Anker’s EufyMake E1 Finally Brings Printers Out of the Dark Ages

The Soundboks Mix Is Going to Make You the Most Popular Guy at the Park

Asus Zenbook A16 Review: Start Considering Snapdragon on PC, for Real

Aqara Thermostat Hub W200 Review: Almost Better than My Ecobee

HP Omen Max 45L Review: 4K60 Gaming Has Never Been So Easy

Ecovacs Winbot W3 Omni Review: Window Cleaning Robots Have a Long Way to Go

AirPods Max 2 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Which ANC Headphones Win?

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