Articles by Grist staff

Sex and the Single Frog

High rate of frog hermaphroditism linked to pesticides An examination of the sex organs of cricket frogs collected in Illinois between 1852 and 2001 is presumably its own reward. However, in this case it’s also led researchers to a notable conclusion: Heavy use of chemicals such as DDT and PCBs may cause higher rates of […]

Message in a Bottle Bill

U.S. bottle-recycling rates fall as bottled-water sales rise Plastic bottle recycling rates in the U.S. have plunged, at least in part because of the boom in sales of bottled water — from some 3.3 billion bottles in 1997 to 15 billion in 2002. So, what to do? Some environmental activists argue that one of the […]

It’s Not Watching Cars Go in Circles That Does It

NASCAR race-cars spew lead What’s the connection between NASCAR racing, diminished mental capacity, and increased criminal behavior? If your answer was “lead,” well, we commend your high-mindedness. Indeed, that is the answer: Though leaded gasoline was phased out in the U.S. decades ago, the racing industry (along with aviation) was exempted. Despite years of pleas […]

A Great Leap Forward, Without All the Famine

China passes its first renewable-energy law The Chinese legislature on Monday passed a bill aimed at increasing the country’s use of renewable energy by mandating that power-grid operators get a portion of their electricity from local renewable sources and by providing financial inducements such as tax incentives, discounted loans, and a national development fund. When […]