Kate Wheeling

Kate Wheeling is a staff writer at Pacific Standard, where she specializes in criminal justice and the environment. She was previously an associate editor and editorial fellow at Pacific Standard. Wheeling has a bachelor's degree in behavioral neuroscience and a master's in science journalism. She has also written for Outside, Science, and Discover magazine.
Outer Space Treaties Didn't Anticipate the Privatization of Space Travel. Can They Be Enforced?
If human civilization begins to expand into space, will colonists feel loyalty to their country, their planet, or Elon Musk?
Climate Disaster Won't Be Avoided With Andrew Yang's Universal Basic Income and Relocation
In the second round of the Democratic debates, Andrew Yang said his platform would provide Americans with the resources they need to adapt to climate change.
How Much Has California's War on Air Pollution Reduced Asthma Rates?
Los Angeles used to be one of the most polluted cities on the planet. After decades of improvements, pollution levels are ticking up again.
Groundwater Depletion May Cause Domestic Wells to Dry Out
Well depths are increasing across much of the United States, but advocates worry drilling deeper isn't the solution.
The EPA Blames Six Asian Nations That The U.S. Exports Plastic Waste to for Ocean Pollution
The Trump administration pointed at China, Indonesia, and others as the main source of trash in our oceans, but the U.S. and other wealthy nations contribute to the problem.
'We're Working Harder': Fact-Checking Trump's Event on His Environmental Record
President Trump mentioned clean air, emissions, and the Green New Deal, but failed to bring up climate change at his environmental event Monday.
Does Air Pollution Undermine Solar Energy?
A new study shows that poor air quality has reduced the amount of sunlight reaching China's solar installations, undermining the country's renewable energy efforts.
Another Major Insurer Is Ditching Coal
Following Europe's lead, a U.S. insurer has announced plans to phase out coal coverage.
Democrats Spent 15 Minutes Talking About Climate Change at the Primary Debates
After DNC chair Tom Perez promised the issue would "feature prominently" in the debates, climate activists were disappointed by how little attention it got.
The Last Democratic Debate Had No Climate Change Questions. This Year That Will Change.
The Democratic Party refused to host a single issue climate debate, but as 20 presidential candidates square off in Miami this week, the topic is expected to be discussed.
Jay Inslee's Latest Climate Proposal Goes Much Farther Than His Challenger's Plans
Ahead of the Democratic debates, Washington Governor Jay Inslee releases another slew of climate policies targeting fossil fuel production.
Chennai, India, Is Running Out of Water. Other Cities Will Be Soon.
The coastal city is the first major metropolitan area in India to deal with such an extreme water shortage, but several large cities around the world may soon face a similar crisis.
Trump's New Clean Energy Rule Is a Last-Ditch Effort to Save the Coal Industry
The Trump administration's replacement for Obama's signature climate rule is meant to be a lifeline for the nation's coal-fired power plants, but it may be too late.
California's Largest Utility Resorts to Blackouts to Prevent Wildfires
Outages were intended to be a last resort in PG&E's wildfire mitigation plan, but it has already used them twice during the first weekend of California's wildfire season.
Trump Wants to End Worst-Case Climate Scenario Modeling. Here's Why That Matters.
The president wants to limit the scope of federal climate assessments, which will leave policymakers and the public unprepared to deal with the consequences of climate change.
Here's How the Oil Industry Plans to Solve Climate Change
The fossil fuel industry is pushing lawmakers to implement a tax on carbon emissions, but environmentalists are skeptical of its newfound support for climate action.
The Military Is the Largest Single User of Fossil Fuels. Elizabeth Warren Wants to Change That.
When it comes to climate change, the Department of Defense has historically focused on preparation rather than prevention.
How Utilities Stall Progress on Alternative Energy
A new report from the Environmental Working Group claims that Duke Energy, the nation's largest utility, is holding back the transition away from fossil fuels.
Will Republican Climate Change Proposals Work?
As conservative opinion shifts, lawmakers like Matt Gaetz and Lamar Alexander have put forward solutions that focus on "innovation" at the expense of regulation.
Can Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies Pay for Beto O'Rourke's Climate Plan?
The Democratic candidate's first policy proposal calls for an end to tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry.
How Humanity Can Solve Our Crisis of Air Pollution
A new book chronicles the rise of extreme air pollution—and the fixes that are helping to clean up the atmosphere
Wildfire Is Ruining California's Air
California's cities have long been plagued by smog, but now some of the state's cleanest air is being polluted by smoke from climate change-fueled wildfires.
Why Is President Trump Attempting to Build Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Energy Program?
A global energy policy expert explains why one of the most oil-rich countries in the world is investing in nuclear and why Congress is concerned.
Wind Turbines Do Not Cause Cancer
But pollution from the fossil fuel industry does.
What's Next for the Green New Deal?
Republicans in Congress have criticized progressives' Green New Deal as an impractical, ludicrous, or even dangerous plan. What are they offering in its place?
Could Climate Change Save the United States' Nuclear Energy Industry?
The Three Mile Island partial meltdown led the U.S. away from nuclear. Global warming might bring it back.
The Trump Administration Asks a Judge to Allow Oil Exploration to Begin Despite Coastal Communities' Lawsuit
The Trump administration has asked a federal judge to allow seismic airgun testing to begin off the Atlantic coast while a lawsuit to prevent the practice works its way through the courts.
Air Pollution Kills More People Than Smoking
And as usual, it's the communities that are least responsible for it that suffer the most.
How the Loss of Large Carnivores Cascades Through Ecosystems
Antelope in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park became more daring after civil war ravaged the predator population. A new study tracks the impact that's had.
Is Climate Change Creating More Tornadoes?
Researchers have found that the most tornado-prone region of the country is shifting east, but they can't say how much global warming is to blame.
The Ocean Gets Heat Waves Too, and They Are Threatening Marine Ecosystems
A new study shows that marine heat waves have become more frequent and more severe as ocean temperatures have climbed.
Democrats and Republicans Support Clean and Renewable Energy, a New Survey Finds
There are important distinctions to make between the two when it comes to policy resolutions like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal, however.
What Can a President Do During a National Emergency Over Climate Change?
Environmental law experts say the presidential powers unlocked by declaring a national emergency are the wrong tools for solving the climate crisis.
The Supreme Court Will Bypass Lower Courts to Review Controversial Census Question About Citizenship Status
After a circuit court ordered the removal of a citizenship question from the census, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on the case. On Friday, the high court agreed.
A Wastewater Company Halts Disposal at Two Sites of Groundwater Contamination
More than two years after Valley Water Management Company settled with environmental groups to halt discharges at two facilities where wastewater seeped into groundwater, Race Track Hill and Fee 34 are finally closed.
Should Teachers Carry Guns? In Many Rural School Districts, They Already Are.
While a national debate about whether or not to arm teachers rages on, hundreds of school districts across the country have been allowing staff to carry weapons on school property for years.
Why Does Trump Keep Mixing Up Weather and Climate?
Trump is citing the polar vortex descending on the Midwest as evidence against climate change. Why is this faulty logic so common?
Are We Headed Toward the Worst-Case Climate Change Scenario?
A series of recent studies and reports suggest that, without immediate and drastic action, the worst-case climate scenario will become the rule rather than the exception.
Weather Forecasts Are Getting Better and Better—but They're Under Threat
Accurate weather forecasts can provide strong economic benefits to Americans and save lives—but only if weather data remains accessible.
Baldwin, Nicholas, Ransby: We Put Together a List of Authors to Read This MLK Day
Pacific Standard asked civil rights experts to share their picks of the most essential literature on the movement.
Are Anti-Vaxxers a Major Health Threat? The World Health Organization Says Yes.
The WHO has named vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 public-health threats of 2019. Here's how the anti-vaccination movement came about, and what to do about it.
U.S. Oil Production Is Set to Rise as Experts Say Fossil Fuels Need to Be Phased Out
Already the largest oil and gas producer in the world, the United States is expected to ramp up oil production more than any other nation in the coming decades.
The U.S. Birth Rate Is Still Falling
But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Trump Officially Nominates Andrew Wheeler to Lead the EPA
The former coal lobbyist, who has been a champion of Trump's deregulatory agenda without any of the ethical scandals of his predecessor, is all but guaranteed a confirmation.
How Do Body Cameras Influence Our Judgment of Blame?
A new study finds that people who watch body camera footage attribute less blame to police officers involved in incidents than if those same officers were caught on dash cams.
U.S. Emissions Are Rising Under Trump
The Trump administration has been systematically rolling back environmental regulations, and now carbon emissions are up across every sector in America.
California Governor Gavin Newsom's Core Issues: An Essential Reading List
In his inaugural address, Governor Gavin Newsom vowed to tackle homelessness, criminal justice reform, and inequality.
California Governor Gavin Newsom Makes Bold Promises in His Inaugural Speech
In his first speech as governor of California, Gavin Newsom reiterated all of his ambitious campaign promises.
Why Solar Panels Should Go From Rooftops to Mountaintops
A new study finds that installing solar panels on snow-covered mountains could help close the gap between demand and production during the winter months.
A Brief History of Showers as a Treatment and a Torture
Showers, now a mainstay of our daily routines, were once a cure for insanity and criminality.