Articles by Grist staff

Beet Nix

A study published today in Science found that the planting of genetically engineered sugar beets could cause a dramatic decline in England’s already waning skylark population. The British researchers argue that sugar beets engineered to be resistant to herbicides will allow farmers to use more powerful sprays to wipe out weeds, possibly leading to a […]

Ooh, Burned!

Reduced logging on national forests does not seem to be a cause for wildfires in the West, says the bipartisan Congressional Research Service. In a study requested by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the service found that if anything, heavy logging in the past may be partially to blame for creating forests more prone to catching […]

Dump and Dumber

In a ruling that could have serious implications for the environment, an independent NAFTA tribunal decided on Wednesday that Mexico must pay a California company $16.7 million in damages because municipal authorities prevented the company from opening a hazardous waste treatment plant in the state of San Luis Potosi. Mexico is appealing the decision, arguing […]

Let Bycatch Be Bygones

In a long-awaited decision, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved regulations yesterday banning shrimping from Dec. 1 to July 15 in areas off the state’s southern coast, with the aim of restoring beleaguered shrimp populations and the likely side effect of helping endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles. The rules will also restrict offshore fishing […]