Articles by Grist staff

Spore Losers

Climate change could make pollen rise and allergies worse Perhaps you’ve heard the argument that a rise in carbon dioxide levels is a good thing, because CO2 helps plants grow. Well, says Hah-vard’s Paul Epstein, “It is the opportunistic plants like poison ivy and ragweed that thrive.” That’s right, ye allergy-stricken: More CO2 means more […]

Kelp, I Need Somebody

It’s World Ocean Day, and the watery deep could use some help Happy World Ocean Day! You, land-dweller, have pitifully limited living space: The surface of the globe you ramble on is some 71 percent saltwater, and the depths plunge down as far as seven miles. These dark and deep blue seas and their myriad […]

An interview with Dick Lugar, GOP crusader for energy independence

If you had to name the foreign-policy heavyweight who has brought more political muscle to the energy-independence crusade than any other, it would be Dick Lugar. Republican from Indiana and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lugar is no stranger to superlatives: Named one of the “10 Best Senators” in a recent issue of […]

Train of Thoughtless

Railroad from Beijing to Tibet tries to outmaneuver climate change A railroad connecting Beijing, China, to Lhasa, Tibet, has been completed, despite considerable political and environmental obstacles. The project, conceived over 40 years ago by Mao Zedong, is a symbol of Chinese domination and has faced opposition from proponents of Tibetan independence. The railroad runs […]