Our 8 Most Popular Environmental Stories of 2017
As the current administration scales back environmental regulation, advocates are fighting harder to protect the natural world. In the past year, movements surged to save national monuments, stand up against big oil (including high-profile arrests), and challenge federal climate change policy. We brought you these stories along with others that helped us understand our environment, showcased its beauty and described the challenges it faces. Below, you will find the most-clicked environmental stories of 2017 from "Earth Focus," "Tending the Wild" and "SoCal Connected."
Your Favorite Desert Getaway Alternatives
Five Secret Desert Places To Visit This Year Instead of Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree has become a popular destination for locals and international tourists alike. But if you're looking to get away from humanity for a bit, here is a list of other places in the California desert where you can find quiet, wide open spaces.
Your Favorite Environmental Redemption Story
Parkour Team Apologizes for Joshua Tree Spree
An English parkour team put out a couple of videos documenting an impressive list of rule violations during their visit to Joshua Tree. Tourists flocked to the park. Further environmental misbehavior ensued.
Your Favorite Environmental Conspiracy Theory
Why Do People Believe in Chemtrails?
Is a contrail a chemtrail? Are the linear clouds of condensed water vapor left behind by passing jet planes truly visible evidence of a massive conspiracy, in which airlines and government agencies are working together to spray substances into the atmosphere? It depends who you ask.
Your Favorite Dark Places
These Are California's 10 Darkest Places For Stargazing
Fortunately, even in overdeveloped California, there are still pockets of very dark skies without LED streetlight haze getting in the way of you witnessing comets and other faint wonders.
The Most Unpopular Weed Killer
That Perfect, Toxic Lawn: American Suburbs and 2,4-D
Before World War II, keeping your lawn “weed-free” was a lot harder, requiring never-ending physical labor to pull out the offending plants before they could go to seed. But wartime chemical weapons research solved that problem. What is 2,4-D and what does it mean for public health?
Your Favorite Story About Native Ecological Knowledge
Untold History: The Survival of California's Indians
No matter what you learned in fourth grade, California Indians didn't conveniently vanish when the 49ers arrived. This article traces a more comprehensive history of Native peoples and how they shape the landscape we all depend on to this day.
Your Favorite Bird Species
Parrots: Pleasure, or Problem?
Learn about parrots, natives of the tropical Andes, and how they attained a degree of local stardom after first appearing in San Francisco in the 1980s.
Your Favorite Documentary
This documentary examines how humans are necessary to live in balance with nature and how traditional practices can inspire a new generation to tend their environment.
The Most Surprising Urban Pollutant
Motorized outdoor equipment like leaf blowers and lawnmowers will soon surpass cars as California's top pollutant. “SoCal Connected'” investigates in this episode.