Our Stories

The Latest by Jessica A. Knoblauch

Senior Staff Writer

Jessica is a former award-winning journalist. She enjoys wild places and dispensing justice, so she considers her job here to be a pretty amazing fit.

March 4, 2011

Friday Finds: Walmart Extinguishes Flame Retardants

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

Walmart blazes trail in banning flame retardants Fed up with feds dragging their heals on banning a controversial flame retardant, retail giant Walmart recently enacted its own ban, reports the Washington Post. Known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs, this class of chemicals is found in everything from pet supplies to furniture and electronics, and …

February 25, 2011

Friday Finds: BPA's Bearded Ladies

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

EU moves forward on chemical regs while U.S. gets bearded females The European Union recently announced that it will ban six toxic substances under its Registration, Evaluation, Authorization & Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) program, reports Chemical & Engineering News. The landmark move, which includes phasing out three plastic softening chemicals and a flame retardant, stands …

February 18, 2011

Friday Finds: Soda's Sickeningly Sweet Side

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

Soft drinks’ light hue may have a dark side Soft drinks have been under heavy scrutiny lately for their use of aspartame, a fake sweetener that, though calorie-free, may just also give you cancer. Unfortunately, that’s not the only carcinogen found in pop (or soda, if you’re the coastal type). A recent Center for Science …

February 11, 2011

Friday Finds: Big Ag’s Sugar Daddy

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

USDA gives Big Ag some sugar in GE beet decision  In a move that directly contradicts the finding of a U.S. federal judge, last week the Department of Agriculture said that farmers could start planting their genetically modified sugar beets, reports the New York Times, despite concerns raised over GE crops by environmental and organic …

February 4, 2011

Friday Finds: Pesticide Trials and Errors

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

EPA proposes strict rules on pesticide testing The EPA recently proposed strict rules meant to keep pesticides manufacturers from paying people to eat or drink pesticides, enter pesticide vapor “chambers,” or have pesticides sprayed in their eyes, reports FairWarning. The proposal, spurred on by a 2010 court settlement between Earthjustice clients and the EPA, will …

January 27, 2011

Friday Finds: The Longest Swim

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

Polar bear swims hundreds of miles in effort to survive In a testament to the rapidly deteriorating conditions that polar bears face in a changing climate, researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey recently discovered a polar bear that swam nonstop for more than 200 hours and 400 miles, reports the BBC. The epic journey in …

January 21, 2011

Friday Finds: Celebrity Frackdown

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

Celebrity disses hydraulic fracturing Forget traipsing around a creepy island with Leonardo DiCaprio. Actor Mark Ruffalo recently went on a much more daring crusade in his latest roll as a passionate environmental advocate speaking out against the practice of hydraulic fracturing, according to HuffPo. After attending an NYC event called “Fracking and Its Effects: A …

January 13, 2011

Friday Finds: I Spy Climate Change

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

Secret agents discover climate change preparedness hole Military officials, CIA analysts and outside experts believe that the U.S. government is ill prepared to act on climate changes “that will threaten to bring instability to places of U.S national interest,” reports McClatchy Newspapers. Bureaucratic infighting and a lack of funding are just two reasons for this …

January 6, 2011

Friday Finds: Lights Out for Light Pollution

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

 Americans see the light on night bright cities Approximately 300 counties, cities and towns are beginning to see the light on excessive light pollution by enacting so-called dark-sky legislation that’s supported by treehuggers and army brats alike, reports USA Today. Light pollution doesn’t just keep you up past your bedtime. Over the years, studies have …

December 29, 2010

Friday Finds: No Shark Fin Soup For You!

By Jessica A. Knoblauch

Congress puts the kibosh on shark fin soup Last week, Congress adopted legislation to curb shark finning, the practice of chopping off a shark’s fins and dumping the finless shark back into the water, all so that people can dine on shark fin soup, reports the Washington Post. Though shark finning is currently banned off of …