Latest Articles

Does urbanism have to be black and white?

When I look around, I mostly see only one type of person associated with the urbanist label: young, white, and male. Not many young, black and female, like me. It shouldn't be that way.

Snowbound city chickens lay eggs for a decadent quiche [VIDEO]

Though the Minneapolis Metrodome collapsed, my chicken coop stood strong. And despite the cold, our hens are outside laying eggs that I used to make this decadent, Thomas Keller-inspired quiche.

Ask Umbra’s Book Club: Why don’t people talk about population?

Overpopulation is a big theme in Umbra's latest Book Club selection, Freedom. We've got exclusive Grist video of author Jonathan Franzen talking about the issue. Why isn't everyone else talking about it? Do you worry about 220,000 new people being added to the planet every day? Tell us what you think, whether you've read the book or not.

Live chat with the Story of Stuff’s Annie Leonard

'Tis the season of giving, which is why Umbra is looking forward to chatting with Annie Leonard, the mastermind behind the Story of Stuff project.

Watch the trailer for 'Revenge of the Electric Car' [VIDEO]

Watch the movie trailer for "Revenge of the Electric Car," the sequel to 2006's "Who Killed the Electric Car?" from filmmaker Chris Paine.

Corn lobby cashes in on tax compromise

It wasn't just plutocrats who made out like bandits in President Obama's grand tax compromise. King Corn got his paws into the public till, too, snatching a cool $5 billion. So why does fiscal rectitude mean that school lunches only get a tiny boost -- offset by a cut in food stamps?

Men in aprons, food-police backlash, and 8 more trends

The Food Channel editors say that thanks to our crappy economy, the kind of edibles we at Grist get excited about are finally going more mainstream. Basically, bye-bye food porn and stunt restaurants -- hello do-it-yourself, make-it-don't-buy-it values.

NYC kids bring urban gardening skills to the roof

Forget swapping chips and pudding: Elementary school kids in New York City can start growing their own lunches in an innovative rooftop greenhouse.

Huge wave of coal plant closures coming, new reports find

New and emerging EPA regulations are going to force a huge wave of coal-plant retirements, two new reports show.

Six reasons to choose the dining room over the diner

There are lots of great restaurants out there, but eating out regularly adds up in many ways. Here are six reasons why eating at home is superior.