1. Girls. Crushing cars.

    We had a dream: Automobiles, being recycled. But first being crushed, slowly, by heavy machinery. All the while surrounded by skeezy dancing girls in bikinis. Well, we bring good news, brothers and sisters. The dream is real. The dream is real.

    Reader support makes our work possible. Donate today to keep our site free. All donations TRIPLED!

    Photo: Aachen Auto/Keith Bragg.

  2. Redressage in a bottle

    A lovelorn sailor places his message in a bottle and casts it to sea, in search of human connection across the vast waters that separate continents, the vast distances that separate souls. Against all hope: a reply! Hands shaking, he unfurls the message, and reads … “Quit littering!”

    Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.

    Photo: iStockphoto.

    Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.

  3. Pimple my ride

    More horsepower than a Porsche! Gas mileage as good as a Prius! More pimped than Xzibit’s Benzo! The hybrid turning heads at this year’s Philly Auto Show wasn’t from Toyota or Honda — it was made by a group of high-school students. And we thought the shop kids were just smoking dope behind the gym.

    Photo: West Philadelphia High School EV Team.

  4. Mmm … ignorance

    Ever wonder what the food you buy in the supermarket really costs, once all environmental, social, and nutritional elements are factored into the equation? No? Well the True Cost Tour wants to tell you anyway. We’ve got a bad feeling about these Hot Pockets …

    Photo: iStockphoto.

  5. Balance of solar power

    In the sunny desert of Nevada, two companies are planning an 18-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant — the biggest such project in the world, like, ever. The biggest purchaser? The military. Cause let’s face it: Even when the oil runs out, we’re still gonna want to kill people.

    Photo: iStockphoto.