Articles by Grist staff

SoCal environmental scientist answers questions

What environmental organization are you affiliated with? What does it do? The Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP) is a consortium of universities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border that cares about the environment, ecology, and people of that region. What’s your job title? I am the managing director. What do you […]

Jesus Christ’s Supercar?

Hybrid SUVs to Hit U.S. Market This Year While a “green SUV” may sound like an oxymoron, Toyota and Ford plan to roll out new gas-electric hybrid SUVs later this year that warrant the label “greener” — or, at least, less egregiously wasteful. Ford’s hybrid Escape will hit U.S. showrooms this summer, while Toyota will […]

What Blows Around Comes Around

Cross-Border Pollution an Increasing Problem Pollution from Asia can taint the air along the West Coast of the U.S., said scientists on Friday at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Jet streams can drive dirty air across the Pacific Ocean in a matter of days, markedly increasing levels of ozone […]

Wheeze and No Thank You

Pollution a Likely Contributor to Rising Asthma Rates Asthma rates are climbing around the world, and though scientists can’t say precisely what’s causing the increase, pollution is thought to be a serious contributor. The respiratory disease has become a particular problem in Asia, where terrible air quality, rapid urbanization, and poor medical treatment have contributed […]