Articles by Grist staff

Send in the Marine Reserves

Australia has unveiled plans to create the world’s largest marine reserve in 16 million acres of the Indian Ocean, 2,500 miles off the nation’s southwest coast. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve will be twice the size of Switzerland and will protect one of the world’s most pristine marine environments from exploitation, including […]

Jeb and Flow

Environmentalists and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) are duking it out over the regulatory language of the colossal $7.8 billion Everglades restoration project — a battle that will work against Bush in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Critics say Bush is less interested in restoring the Everglades than in securing a water supply for South Florida […]

Nuclear Bombay

Scientists in India say the country could be at risk of a nuclear catastrophe — and in this case, Pakistan has nothing to do with it. Kakrapara Atomic Power Station is considered the nation’s best nuclear plant, but its reactors emit radiation three times greater than the international norm. With 12 other nuclear reactors in […]

Carrot Juice

Compost isn’t just for your garden anymore: Scientists at the University of the West of England have created a microbial fuel-cell battery powered by organic waste. The miniature battery converts biochemical energy from food into electricity, using E. coli bacteria that release hydrogen atoms as they break down carbohydrates. The fuel cell runs on sugar […]