Articles by Grist staff

Mass die-off of bats in U.S. Northeast worries and puzzles researchers

Photo: Michael Grace A mass die-off of tens of thousands of bats in the U.S. Northeast is confounding researchers and worrying wildlife advocates. The phenomenon has been dubbed white nose syndrome since many of the dead and dying bats show a white fungus on their nose. However, the fungus itself is believed to be a […]

Green group files lawsuit to protect 681 species

Environmentalists filed suit last week against the U.S. Interior Department, seeking to force the agency to review and issue findings on the status of 681 species vulnerable to extinction. WildEarth Guardians, which filed the suit, contends that the Bush administration has deliberately stalled Endangered Species Act listing decisions to appease developers and other interests; the […]

A roundup of news snippets

• Barack Obama talks about timber and liquefied natural gas in Oregon. • The culling of Yellowstone bison rises ire. • Malthusian fears are bubbling up again, says a front-page Wall Street Journal article. • Illegal trade in polar bear skins may be rising in Russia. • The FDA relied heavily on industry studies when […]

Plans for Indiana BioTown face obstacles, but sputter on

In 2005, Reynolds, Ind., was deemed the world’s first “BioTown,” as agricultural officials unveiled a plan to power the 550-person burg entirely with corn, hog waste, sewage, and other energy sources in ready local supply. Three years and many obstacles later, the ambitious proposal is far off track. A significant private investor dropped out; construction […]