GRIST

FEBRUARY 5. 2026

The Olympics are ditching PFAS waxes — and the ‘ridiculous’ speed they gave skiers

A key source of speed is gone, as concerns over toxic “forever chemicals” reshape Olympic skiing and the science behind winning on snow.

Vegan fine dining had a moment. Now it’s over.

As luxury restaurants reintroduce meat, young vegan cooks are figuring out what’s next.

FEBRUARY 4. 2026

Inside the polarizing plan to stash carbon in a California wetland

A proposal to store carbon dioxide deep below a restored Bay Area wetland is testing how — and where — California pursues climate solutions.

The U. S. doesn’t need to generate as much new electricity as you think

Greater energy efficiency and load shifting could help meet rising electricity needs at a fraction of the cost of building new power plants.

FEBRUARY 3. 2026

Japan’s unprecedented project could test the limits of deep-sea mining

Japan’s five-week test of deep sea mining is a milestone — and test of how nations balance geopolitics, clean energy, and environmental risk.

Why the future of meat production is in vats, not farms

A new book argues that "cultivated” and other alternative meats will increasingly challenge traditional ways of raising livestock.

FEBRUARY 2. 2026

Trump’s ‘get-out-of-jail-free card’ for polluters faces its latest test in court

The president exempted about 40 medical sterilization companies from Biden-era emissions standards. A new lawsuit challenges his authority.

Turmoil at FEMA adds to the revolt against Kristi Noem

Lawmakers, disaster response experts, and disaster survivors say her policies have slowed emergency response and delayed recovery funding.

FEBRUARY 1. 2026

Visiting Oregon? You may soon have to pay a tax to protect its wildlife.

A bill in the Oregon Legislature would tax tourists for conservation.

JANUARY 31. 2026

New Hampshire Republicans want to raise taxes on homes with solar

The proposed repeal of a property tax break for solar owners is sparking fierce opposition from those who say the benefit barely dents tax rolls.

JANUARY 30. 2026

Panic buying ahead of the winter storm isn’t preparedness. Here’s who it hurts.

While some hoard bread, milk, and eggs, others face bare shelves — and the planet pays too.

The biomass industry promised these Southern towns prosperity. So why are they still dying?

Louisiana and Mississippi made bets that wood-pellet plants would revive towns that had fallen on hard times.

EVs are already making your air cleaner

A study in California finds that even small increases in EVs lead to measurable drops in air pollution at the neighborhood level.