Latest Articles

Energy and environment in the GOP platform: They said what?

We read the whole 62-page Republican platform so you don't have to. Here are the good bits, by which we mean the bad bits.

These are basically treasure maps for renewable energy

Detailed maps of the best places for solar, wind, and geothermal are basically guaranteed to make you rich.

Obama calls for massive push on industrial efficiency

The president set a goal of 40 gigawatts of combined heat and power (which we explain) in industrial facilities by 2020.

Mr. Rand Paul wants you to be nice to Mr. Exxon Mobil

Mr. Gristmill scoffs, kicks sand in his face.

Tiny bugs are pooping in your face

You know what? We changed our mind. Stop saving the planet and BURN IT. Because we don’t want to live in a world where rosacea is caused by the feces-bloated torsos of mites that live inside your pores. Sadly, that’s exactly the world we live in, as researchers from the National University of Ireland have […]

The hurricane (Isaac) is dead. Long live the hurricane (Kirk).

And waiting in the wings -- Leslie, the second-earliest "L" storm in history.

8-year-old gets rich off whale vomit and decides to open an animal shelter

Charlie Naysmith is the sort of kid who, when he unexpectedly finds a rock-like substance worth tens of thousands of dollars, donates it all to help animals.

Al Gore condemns media for dropping the ball on climate change coverage

The Goracle had some harsh words for the press after its tepid reaction to news of record Arctic ice melt.

Guess what’s coming to dinner? The unprocessed food challenge continues

Having sworn off of hot dogs and Doritos, Grist’s green-living pioneer, the Greenie Pig, sets out to a backyard barbecue at a friend’s house. Her mission: to pass on the processed foods without coming off as a jerk.

Wondering which condoms to buy? Science has the answer

Debby Herbenick knows how you feel about condoms. You know you need them, but you just want to go into the drugstore, get them, and get the hell out of there. (This is basically why they invented those self-service checkout things: As embarrassing as it is to buy condoms, imagine being the person on the […]