—by Beth Kosson, EcoMyths Education and Outreach Director I had some moments of transformative understanding this past weekend at the International Wildlife Conservation Expo. Moments that blew my mind, brought tears to my eyes and above all, changed what I thought I knew about wildlife conservation. Hosted by the Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo (CZS), the … Read more
Ever wanted to get behind the studio glass at WBEZ? Tour the city’s greenest greenery with the true experts on the subject from Chicago Wilderness? Journey through the forests of the Morton Arboretum with world-class scientists guiding your adventure? Now you can have your pick of the litter during the silent auction at the EcoMyths Naturally … Read more
Has it become a hassle to care for the environment? Or worse, has it actually become passé to care in the first place? While the ’90s made environmentalism cool again, some statistics indicate that identifying as a greenie may have gone the way of the erstwhile high-waisted jean or Friends hair. Yes, according to a … Read more
Do All Plants Score Eco-Gold? Let the gardening games begin! For many of us, the hottest sport of the spring season is prettying up the yard or garden. Eager homeowners can be spotted across the country lining up at their local nursery to seize upon the brightest flowers, the shapeliest shrubs, and the most climbable … Read more
“Don’t sweat the small stuff” is a great mantra…except when you’re talking about plastic pollution. Devilishly tiny plastics, a.k.a. microplastics, are adding up to one massive problem in the world’s waterways – acting as a sponge for other pollutants, not to mention confusing and harming wildlife. In this EcoMyths/Worldview segment, we find out how and … Read more
Do Herbal Remedies Count as Real Medicine? —by Jessica B. Turner and Daisy Simmons You don’t have to travel back in time to leech-sucking days to see that all claims for medicinal value were not created equal. Today, miracle cures are everywhere—including, sometimes, the natural products aisle. Unfortunately, because they’re not regulated as drugs by … Read more
Pharma-farming: Can Real Medicine Come From Plants? — by Jessica B. Turner, PhD candidate, West Virginia University Real medicine only works when it’s made with complicated, manmade ingredients, right? Nope! For a closer look at our diverse options for healing, let’s head outside and explore Mama Nature’s surprisingly impressive pharmaceutical supplier: the mighty plant kingdom. … Read more
—by Heidi Cardenas, a freelance writer with a keen interest in gardening and natural living Valentine’s Day is all about red—red roses, red hearts, red boxes of chocolate—you know the drill. So this year, why not mix things up by adding in some green? To celebrate your love for Mother Earth, try one of these … Read more
Is Smaller Better When It Comes to Plastic Pollution? Small plastic pollution is no game! Teeny weeny plastics are polluting even the cleanest-looking waters—and unsuspecting aquatic wildlife are accidentally gobbling them up. Question is, if the plastic is so tiny you can’t actually see it, does it really matter? When we say microplastics are tiny, … Read more
When you wash your face, the goal is to get yourself nice and clean—not slather your body in plastic. But, bizarre as it may sound, many exfoliating scrubs and other personal care products like soap and toothpaste are made with tiny plastic particles called microbeads. And though they’re so small you might never even notice … Read more
