grist-georgia-psc-header-ai

Grist List

  • Will gas prices turn America into Europe?

    If you thought driving sporty little fuel-efficient vehicles and living a reasonable distance from work was strictly an affectation of Continentals who kiss their ladies down there, we've got news for you: Turns out these behaviors can be induced in any population, whatever the likelihood that its colors will run, simply by increasing the cost […]

    Christopher Mims Energy

  • A violent climate is the new normal, say scientists

    "Extreme weather" may soon just be called "weather." Thanks to climate change, floods and storms and droughts and Snowpocalypses and the like will soon be standard office procedure, according to scientists and civic planners brought together by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Nobody was willing to say that any specific recent instances of severe weather […]

    Jess Zimmerman Science

  • Learn about oil prices through the magic of rap

    Kids these days, with their "emo" and their "MySpace" and their "sexting"! How do you "get down" verbally to show you're "hep"? How about a rap music song! Actually, while the apparent vogue of rap-based explainers is a little weird, we can't complain too much about this one, since it brought us the line "oil's […]

    Jess Zimmerman Energy

  • Critical List: Reid, enviro groups talk air quality; DDT in Africa

    Harry Reid met with Big Environment last night to strategize a defense of the Clean Air Act. Politico says a key point of debate was whether enviros should go after errant, but potentially vulnerable Dems on green issues during the next election cycle. Senators rejected a bill that would have sped up oil drilling, then […]

    Sarah Laskow Health

  • Senate refuses to sign ‘We Heart Offshore Drilling’ petition

    Well, here's one piece of good news coming out of D.C.: The Senate — including five Republicans — voted to reject a bill that would have expanded offshore drilling. Of course, that might be because there are already plenty of new drilling permits being issued (53 shallow-water permits under the new post-Gulf spill regulations), so […]

    Jess Zimmerman Energy

  • A look inside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant

    This video shows the status of restoration work at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, two months after the plant's safety systems first failed (and a week after the TEPCO power company officially confirmed that the plant was in meltdown). Offices are still littered with debris from the earthquake damage, and workers wear gas masks and […]

    Jess Zimmerman Energy

  • The U.K.’s emissions targets are awesome

    Oh, United Kingdom! Whatever else can be said about your bad food and stupid weddings, this much is clear: You are world leaders in funny sci-fi, classic sketch comedy, thwarted imperialism, and now emissions reduction targets. The U.K. has committed to cutting emissions to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2025, a target that's well […]

    Jess Zimmerman Politics

  • Could climate disruptions lead to an increase in GIANT SNAKES?

    Here's another reason to combat climate change: Severe weather events can flush out terrifying giant snakes. This photo — which gives me ALL THE WILLIES. ALL OF THEM — was taken in Louisiana near the Morganza spillway, a flood control structure that was just employed to relieve pressure on the levee system after recent floods. […]

    Jess Zimmerman Science

  • Minneapolis to open 12 vacant lots to gardening

    Minneapolis is opening up 12 vacant lots across the city to groups that will turn them into community gardens, because a lot strewn with tomatoes and strawberries sure beats one strewn with empty McDonald's cups. There's a long tradition of using empty space in cities for community gardens, and these programs can go wonky when […]

    Sarah Laskow Agriculture