Overcoming loneliness: 4 ways to make real connections and build community
Have you ever considered how your brain interprets loneliness? Surprisingly, it recognizes it as a threat. Loneliness is more than simply a passing mood; it is a major risk factor for a variety of health problems. Loneliness can have serious consequences for our health, including sadness, anxiety, Read More...
Here’s how to dive into your local food scene
We all know that we should be eating local, yet it often falls to the bottom of the list—especially when we’re busy and on a budget. There’s more than meets the eye, though, with local food. It’s more nutrient-dense and tastes better, not to mention you’ll be supporting your local farmers Read More...
New jellyfish species named after Monterey Bay Aquarium volunteer
As we explore further into space, we also discover new oddities every day in our own waters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that more than 80 percent of the world’s oceans remain unmapped and undiscovered. Scientists estimate that 91 percent of ocean species have Read More...
World Happiness Report shines a light in dark times
The past few years have been incredibly challenging for the world, though it turns out we’re doing better than you might think! According to an international research project, levels of social support and benevolence actually increased in this difficult time. This year is the 10th Read More...
Help your teen find purpose through activism and volunteering
All parents hope to raise empathetic and altruistic kids, but this can feel more difficult during the teenage years as kids begin to assert their independence. Research has shown that volunteer work and activism is good for our physical and mental health. This work can be particularly impactful for Read More...
Volunteers just cleaned up over 9,000 lbs of trash from the Tennessee River
It’s beautiful to see what happens when people come together and take responsibility for cleaning their local area. Recently, volunteers in Tennessee used a 25-foot aluminum workboat to traverse the Tennessee River and clean thousands of pounds of waste from the shorelines. The river, a Read More...
5 ways to boost your microbiome this summer
There's no debating the importance of a healthy gut for overall well-being—and now, more than ever, staying in optimal health is top of mind for most people. Luckily, summer is a great time to get your microbiome in prime shape. As we enter these mid-summer days, here are some fantastic ways you Read More...
Detroit Mower Gang: These volunteers compete to maintain city’s old parks
As small budgets and bureaucracy leave playgrounds and parks uncared for in Detroit, a group of twenty-five volunteers known as the Detroit Mower Gang is taking matters into their own hands. This past weekend, volunteer lawnmowers competed for a championship belt awarded to the person who cuts Read More...
Strategies for stimulating your social needs while social distancing
Humans are wired “to come together physically”, which makes this whole social distancing thing a bit of a tricky issue. Since social distancing recommendations could remain in place for months to come, NPR has come up with a few effective strategies for connecting with others while maintaining Read More...
Green policies, citizen science, and reversing the trend of wildlife losses
Amid big declines in wildlife, action can still help to reverse the trend for some species. This is the conclusion from a new analysis out of the UK which shows that freshwater insects, mosses and lichens are bucking the trend of wildlife losses in the country and have expanded their ranges since Read More...