Blog Posts by Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)

by Jenn Savedge, Mother Nature Network

Beautiful and Bald BarbieA new Facebook page had skyrocketed to popularity and it has nothing to do with the latest starlet or rock star. The new site, started just days before Christmas, has more than 40,000 "Likes'" and the numbers are growing every minute.

The page's creators are unlikely stars as well. Rebecca Sypin, 32, is a special-education teacher living in Lancaster, Calif. Jane Bingham, 42, is a photographer from Sewell, N.J. What has brought these two women together? Cancer.

Bingham has lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatments to treat lymphoma. Sypin's 12-year-old daughter also lost her hair this year in her own battle with leukemia. In an effort to honor girls and women who have lost their hair in their battles with cancer, Sypin and Bingham hatched the idea to lobby toy maker Mattel, manufacturer of the iconic Barbie dolls, to create a bald Barbie doll. Their Facebook page, "Beautiful and Bald Barbie! Let's see if we can get it made" is racking up

Read More »from Women Lobby for Bald Barbie for Girls with Cancer

by Chanie Kirschner, Mother Nature Network

Bad breathQ: I've got bad breath. There, I said it. I'm sick and tired of popping breath strips like they're candy, but it seems to be all I can do to keep my breath fresh throughout the day. Got any tips on how to freshen my chompers from within?

A: Well, yes and no. There are things you can do to freshen your breath, but they are not as simple as you may think, unfortunately. First, let me state that in rare cases bad breath can be a sign of a serious illness so when in doubt, be sure to see your doctor.

If you've just got plain ol' bad breath, (which, if you're in the dating scene, can be a serious illness in itself), then there usually is an underlying reason why.

[ Related: 6 signs you need a new dentist ]

According to Dr. Daniel Robbin, a dentist in Miami, bad breath is generally caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth. That buildup can occur as a result of a myriad of things. First and most obviously (well, not so obviously to my

Read More »from What Causes Bad Breath, and How You Can Fix It

by Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network

Oskar, the blind cat

On July 9, Mick and Bethany Szydlowski left their home in Omaha, Neb., to pick up an autoharp they'd seen advertised on Craigslist, but they came home with YouTube's next famous feline.

When the Szydlowskis arrived at the seller's house, he didn't just show them the instrument - he introduced them to a tiny blind kitten, the last of the litter. The seller said that if no one adopted him, the cat would either stay on the farm a little while longer - where he'd likely become prey - or he'd be taken to an animal shelter. But after Bethany held the kitten in her arms, she knew she'd be taking home more than just an autoharp.

The Szydlowskis took the kitten - who was born without fully formed eyeballs - home to meet their rescue cat, Klaus, and dubbed the little guy Oskar. They worried because Klaus had never been receptive to other cats, but to their relief, the older cat accepted the kitten within a matter of days and began taking care of him.

Read More »from Blind Kitten Becomes an Internet Sensation

by Starre Vartan, Mother Nature Network

Washing machineLaundry is probably my favorite household chore, but nevertheless, it's still work, and I'd rather not be doing it. If laundry is threatening to take over your life (or you just want to save some time and money), there are some simple ways to save yourself by starting at the root: what goes into the laundry hamper.

[ Related: How to make your own laundry detergent ]

Wear your clothes more often: This seems obvious, but many of us throw perfectly clean clothing in the hamper, just to get it out of the way, and all of a sudden, there's a mountain of laundry. While the items that are closest to your body definitely need a good wash every time they're worn (undershirts, sports bras, undies, boxers), other clothes, especially jeans, sweatshirts and sweatpants to lounge in, pajamas, sweaters, some shirts and jackets can go two (or in the case of jeans, a dozen or more) wears without washing.

Some people even suggest that denim washing need only be a

Read More »from Smart Ways to Cut Down on Your Laundry

by Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network

Q: My veterinarian just told me that my cat and dog are at risk of developing diabetes. I didn't even know they could get diabetes. Exercise isn't at the top of my to-do list, and now I need to worry about putting my pets on a diet. That may work for the dog, but I doubt the cat will go for it. What can I do to help them get in shape when I'm not motivated myself?

[ Related: 7 pudgy pets that should lay off the kibble ]

A: My sister's dog, Daisy, spent a six-month vacation at my home after the birth of my nephew. The 14-pound terrier enjoyed having free run of the house. During her stay, Daisy also took great pleasure in tormenting my 48-pound dog, Lulu, and teasing Tonka, our 75-pound foster pooch.

To keep the peace, I often fed Daisy first and then scooped out the same amount of kibble for Lulu and Tonka. It wasn't until my brother-in-law visited that I realized the major flaw in my game plan. One look at his formerly miniature schnauzer

Read More »from Keep Your Overweight Pet from Getting Diabetes

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Bunny Rabbitby Russell McLendon, Mother Nature Network

2011 was the Year of the Rabbit, but it wasn't very lucky for a bunny born without ears near Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in May. The plant has leaked large amounts of radiation after being damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, but it's unclear whether that caused the rabbit's mutation.

The disaster at Fukushima was one of the year's biggest news events, including its effects on local pets and wildlife. But lots of other big animal-related stories also unfolded over the past 12 months. We've collected 11 of the most intriguing ones here.

1. Beebe blackbirds

2011 got off to an eerie start, as a rash of mass animal deaths made global news in January. First came the demise of 4,000 red-winged blackbirds in Beebe, Arkansas, followed days later by 500 blackbirds in Louisiana and up to 100 crows in Sweden. Meanwhile, millions of dead fish washed up in Maryland, and piles of dead crabs dotted beaches in the U.K.

The Read More »from The Top 11 Animal Stories of 2011

Morieka Johnson, Mother Nature Network

Brushing a cat's teethQ: My family is trying to keep things afloat on just one paycheck, and we can't afford to provide the same care to our pets. How can I cut back without compromising their health?

A: An ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. I learned that lesson shortly after kneeling in front of my sister's pooch one afternoon, hoping to determine the cause of her dog breath. My mother had called earlier that day insisting that there was a serious problem.

The veterinarian diagnosed Daisy's severe periodontal disease and suggested dental extractions - 13 to be exact. Post-treatment, my sister improved Daisy's dental care, adding a plaque-reducing rinse to her water each day. Thanks to a special they were running during Pet Dental Health Month in February, her extractions cost about $500. A bottle of dental rinse costs about $7.

Lesson learned.

As you look for ways to trim the family budget, it's only natural to consider pet expenses such as

Read More »from How to Reduce Your Pets' Expenses Without Compromising Their Health

by Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network

Odd banana packaging

From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, household waste increases by more than 25 percent, and this extra trash - mostly food, shopping bags, product packaging and wrapping paper - adds up to an additional 1 million tons of waste a week that's sent to U.S. landfills, according to the EPA. Luckily, there are many steps you can take that will help you reduce your holiday trash - and even save some cash.

[ Related: 7 things you can make instead of buying ]

Where to shop
The easiest way to cut back on what you're throwing away is to reduce the amount of stuff you bring home in the first place, and a good place to start is with product packaging. After all, packaging makes up 30 percent of America's trash - the largest portion of municipal solid waste generated.

It might seem overwhelming (perhaps even downright impossible) to do package-free Christmas shopping, but there are ways to cut back on unnecessary packaging. Look for retailers that offer

Read More »from How to Create Less Waste During the Holidays