Articles by Grist staff

Sludge, Jury, and Executioner

Toxic waste dumping in Ivory Coast unleashes chaos Chaos still reigns in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, a month after 400 tons of toxic waste were illegally dumped at 14 open-air sites near residential areas. The black sludge — petroleum waste containing hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons — is letting off fumes that have sickened tens of thousands, […]

Alisa Gravitz, director of Co-op America, answers questions

Alisa Gravitz. What work do you do? I have the great pleasure of serving as Co-op America’s executive director. What does your organization do? Co-op America uses the power of the marketplace to solve social and environmental problems. Our name itself stands for the idea of people in their economic roles (as consumers, workers, investors, […]

Chagrin and Bear It

Melting sea ice makes polar bears starve, drown Travel agents hawking trips to the Arctic have been boasting lately of an increased likelihood that tourists will see polar bears — because starving bears are encroaching on human settlements to scavenge for food. Polar bears have traditionally used ice floes to hunt seals, their favored prey […]

A Beautiful Find

Scientists discover 52 new marine species near Indonesia Eight new species of shrimp, 20 new species of coral, and 24 new species of fish, including two types of sharks, have been discovered off the coast of Indonesia. And these aren’t your grandmother’s marine species: Male wrasse fish get sexy for their harems by flashing bright […]