Did you know that you’re an ecosystem? Our bodies are host to trillions of microbes, with bacterial cells outnumbering our own 10 to 1. The highest concentration of bacteria is in the colon and small intestine, where food is broken down into energy and nutrients we can use. The ...read more
Theme parties are fun opportunities to get creative, whether you’re 5 or 35. An under-the-sea theme offers a lot of ways to re-create a seascape with easy-to-find or recycled materials and some imagination. Kids can join the fun with crafts and homemade decorations inspired by ...read more
Concerns about “information overload” have been around since before the printing press. The worry has been that too much information could overwhelm our human sense of understanding, and yet people have so far adapted to each new wave of information technology. We got used to ...read more
Harsh climates give rise to some of the most adaptable, extraterrestrial-looking plant life on Earth – so adaptable that they can even thrive in an urban jungle! Succulents, the catch-all name for a variety of plants that retain water, offer the perfect mix of easy care and ...read more
Looking for an aerobic, core exercise that’s universal, timeless and sexy? Get a hoop around your hips! Whether as a supplement to your yoga routine or just for fun and stress relief, hula hooping is a fun way for men and women of all ages to increase body awareness, build ...read more
Terrariums are decorative mini-landscapes made from just about any kind of clear container, from old jars and fish tanks to light bulbs and soda bottles. As a naturally self-regulating environment, terrariums are a low-maintenance way for the busy urban biophiliac to be around ...read more
The relationship between the heart and brain has often been studied as a one way conversation, with the heart responding to the brain’s commands. Yet the idea of the heart as an intelligent, perceptual organ dates back to ancient times, and some say heart intelligence is more ...read more
Your brain doesn’t exactly fall asleep at night the way your body does; it takes your mind to new places. Some research suggests that dreams can help improve memory, boost creativity, and even make you smarter. Whether you’re looking for a thrill in your REM cycle or just ...read more
Is it true that the greenest building is one that is already built? Earlier this year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation released a report detailing how home restoration is just about always greener than new construction. Aside from being “the ultimate in recycling,” ...read more
Space cuisine has influenced Earth food since the days of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions. Today’s astronauts enjoy a much more varied menu than ever before; cosmic cuisine includes chef-made meals that are a huge improvement over the tubes of applesauce and dehydrated pot ...read more
Conflict Kitchen is a Pittsburgh, PA takeout restaurant that only serves the cuisine of countries in conflict with the United States. Rotating identities every six months to highlight a different country, the Conflict team has brought Iranian, Afghan and now Venezuelan food to ...read more
As a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, the humble cauliflower packs as much of a nutritional punch as its cousins kale, broccoli and cabbage. Cauliflower blossoms with phytonutrients and antioxidants, giving your natural detox system a flavorful kick start. Its unique ...read more
Since its development in 1939, Kirlian photography has awed doctors, artists, plant-lovers, mystics and more recently, foodies. A favorite of raw food fanatics, this method uses no light, but captures an intriguing glow around objects and people. Some compare these emanations to ...read more
By the mid-1800s, artificial light was part of just about everyone’s life. The advent of the light bulb and the burgeoning city nightlife sped up the exchange of ideas and money, but it also affected our bodies and minds in ways that few historians thought to record at the time. ...read more
Over the last few years, a faulty tip has persisted on the Internet. Can PLU codes – those four- or five-digit numbers on produce stickers – really indicate whether a food is genetically modified? Not really. There are other surefire ways to avoid GMOs, and a big effort underway ...read more
It’s at the end of many ingredient lists in processed food: “natural flavor.” But what substances fall under this benign label? What natural sources are they extracted from? If you shop in the center aisles of the grocery store, chances are those natural flavor ingredients came ...read more
Salty, sweet, sour and bitter have been recognized as the four pillars of taste for centuries. All other tastes were thought to come from a combination of these flavors. But what’s the word for the savory roof-of-the-mouth sensation of parmesan cheese, beefsteak tomatoes, and ...read more
Have you ever wondered why you’re drawn to some foods and repulsed by others? Supertasters, about 25% of the population, live in an amplified world of flavor that predisposes them to crave salt and reject bitterness. Taste researchers have classified this and two other kinds of ...read more
Preparedness requires that you imagine and rehearse those first 72 hours after a natural disaster or emergency. How can you best prepare for a situation that keeps you out of your house, or if you have to leave on short notice? Having a plan and supply kit is essential to your ...read more
Know the wonderful sense of calm that follows a belly laugh? The ultra-satisfying feeling like you just smiled a thousand smiles and did a hundred crunches? That afterglow is an instant boost that can also have lasting positive effects on your health and well-being. You've ...read more
The USDA has yet to find the source of contamination for beef that has sickened 16 people with a strain of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella. Last week, Hannaford grocery stores recalled ten types of possibly-contaminated beef products with sell-by dates of Dec. 17, 2011 or ...read more
Chick-Fil-A may have bitten off more than it can chew in threatening a Vermont artist for his “Eat More Kale” T-shirts, which the chicken chain says violate its trademark rights to their slogan “Eat Mor Chikin.” The pro-vegetable maxim has become a battle cry against the ...read more
The US Army has developed a new sandwich that can be stored for two years without refrigeration, freeze drying or adding water. The new pocket sandwiches are tough competition for the vacuum-packed Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) that troops are used to on the battlefield. MREs are ...read more
McDonald’s is set to launch a new ad campaign in January that features four of the restaurant’s beef and produce suppliers attesting to the quality of their ingredients. The sneak peek of the first ad features potato supplier Frank Martinez in front of a mound of potatoes, ...read more
A new report from the Institute for Medicine calls for the retirement of most, but not all, of the 600 chimpanzee test subjects held by the National Institute for Health. NIH asked The Institute for Medicine for advice last December after NIH ordered a group of retired ...read more
There has never been a better time to assert your right to an informed choice in food. The FDA may be finalizing approval of genetically engineered salmon, the first GE animal for human consumption, and there is one team working hard for consumers’ rights to know. The Just Label ...read more
Shamrock Farms is under fire from the USDA for questionable “split operation” livestock management practices that could get their organic certification revoked. The USDA investigation is in response to a formal complaint by the Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry watchdog ...read more
Families on the “Garden Isle” of Kauai are suing the Dupont-owned Pioneer seed company for failure to investigate the danger posed by open air testing of genetically modified crops. 150 Waimea residents filed the lawsuit Tuesday against Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., as ...read more
The British Journal of Cancer recently published a review that links cancer rates in the UK to various lifestyle and environmental factors including diet, exposure to hormones and radiation, and tobacco and alcohol use, among others. While the reviewing doctors emphasize that ...read more