Articles

Fallacy of the creative class: Why Richard Florida’s ‘urban renaissance’ won’t save U.S. cities

Cities like Oakland, Calif., are learning galleries and high-end coffee shops can't solve violence, poverty, and other inner-city problems. And when climate change hits hard, they may hurt more than help.

Susie Cagle Cities

Raccoons occupy a crane in Seattle

Some Bay Area raccoons moved into a crane. They got chased out. Coming soon to a garbage can near you.

Sarah Miller Culture

Kids concentrate better when they bike to school

Here's a really good argument for improving bike infrastructure.

Sarah Laskow Culture

Are green jobs meant to help the economy or the jobless?

The New York Times and Gawker offer very different takes on the subject.

Philip Bump Technology

Obama’s Keystone XL decision could doom the tar sands … or the planet

Every now and then what a president decides actually determines how the world turns.

Michael T. Klare Climate & Energy

Never mind the State of the Union; here’s what Obama can actually do on climate

From cracking down on power plants to getting rid of HFCs, there's a lot the president can do on climate change without the help of Congress.

David Roberts Climate & Energy

Can we blame climate change for the Northeast’s massive blizzard?

As always, not directly. But climate change very likely made a big storm bigger.

Philip Bump Cities

The budget turmoil may mean no meat inspectors — and no meat

This is likely just an empty threat from the president, but it's a good one.

Philip Bump Food

Horse-meat scandal is now mafia-linked horse-and-donkey-meat scandal

Some of the horse meat might actually be donkey meat. And international organized crime groups might be to blame.

Sarah Laskow Food

Are solar panels the worst thing for the environment ever? Um, no

But this Associated Press article about pollution from solar-panel manufacturing might lead you to believe otherwise.