Articles by Grist staff

Reefer Madness

Between 70 and 90 percent of coral reefs in the Indian Ocean have been destroyed by human activity, marine biologists say, and unless action is taken the remaining reefs will likely be destroyed as well. Sewage dumping, soil erosion, and dynamiting by fishers are all taking their toll, but the most serious problem facing the […]

Building Owners Painted into a Corner

The feds announced yesterday that they are launching a big crackdown on building owners who fail to notify tenants that their homes may contain lead paint. Attorney General Janet Reno, Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, and EPA Administrator Carol Browner said the government had fined four District of Columbia property owners $87,000 and ordered them to […]

It's Sick, Itzik

Israel’s environment is in deplorable condition, according to a year-long study released yesterday by the Israel Economic Forum for the Environment. The nation’s aquifer systems suffer from serious salination problems, construction is encroaching on open space, and air quality has deteriorated to the point that one in 10 Israeli children has asthma, according to the […]

Not So Presto Change-o

In a twist that has surprised scientists, new analyses indicate that the growth rate of climate change has declined about 25 percent since 1980. Climate change is still underway, but now researchers believe that humans may have more time than previously thought to cope with the problem. Scientists don’t understand why this has happened because […]