Latest Articles

Why it matters that spilled Michigan oil came from tar sands

Brace yourselves for this: An energy executive has been caught bending the truth to downplay an environmental disaster.

A climate policy for people and the environment

A well-designed climate policy could slash greenhouse emissions and put money in Americans' pockets -- but that's not what Congress is considering.

‘iPod zombie’ walkers are threatening the lives of innocent SUV drivers

I saw a 17-walker pileup just this morning on the way to work. Twisted limbs, spilled lattes, tangled earbud cords. It was horrific.

Energy machismo and White House solar panels

If there’s one thing you can say about President Obama it’s that he certainly hasn’t given his erstwhile fans on the left a shortage of things to keep scratching their heads over. One of the biggest perennial question marks hanging over his administration has been his failure to lead on clean energy – and not […]

If killer weather is in our future, can we get better at predicting it?

NOAA reports that the planet has just been through the warmest January-to-July period on record.

Live chat with Lisa Hymas on population and the choice to be childfree

Read the intelligent and thoughtful insights from Grist Senior Editor Lisa Hymas and Grist readers from their discussion of population, reproductive rights, and deciding whether or not to pursue parenthood on a crowded planet.

D.C. schools refuse to disclose food-rebate accounting

Attorneys for D.C. Public Schools have refused to release an accounting of more than $1 million in rebates received from corporate food manufacturers, claiming that details about the rebates constitute "trade secrets."

A recently converted vegetarian tells which meatless dogs cut the mustard

Do vegetarians have to trade that smoky, juicy hot-dog flavor from our childhood ballgames for rubbery, ersatz wieners? A brand new herbivore fearlessly fires up the grill to find out.

Ask Umbra on the impacts of and alternatives to milk

If you think milk comes from a benevolent dairy fairy, you’re in for a surprise. Umbra answers a question about dairy cows and milk options that are friendlier to animals, the environment, and your health.

Walk Score team unveils Transit Score and two more apps

First there was Walk Score, the web tool that calculates how walkable a neighborhood is and ranks it on a 100-point scale. Today the same developers release Transit Score, an app that ranks how well-served a location is by buses and rail lines.