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4 energy-saving portable electric space heaters

Take the chill off with these top-performing picks for staying warm.




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Was Jane Austen poisoned?

Some think Jane Austen, the beloved author, may have been offed.



  • Arts & Culture

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Popularity doesn't really matter for adults — or does it?

A new book, "Popular: The Power of Likability in a Status-Obsessed World," suggests that status matters throughout life, not just in high school.




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Two new 'Harry Potter' books to hit stores in fall

Two new books will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first 'Harry Potter' book.




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To mark its centennial, Finland gives itself the most Finnish gift possible: A new library

Finland, the world's most literate nation, rings in its 100th birthday with the opening of Oodi Helsinki Central Library.



  • Arts & Culture

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Bizarre plants delightfully come to life in 'Atlas of Botanic Poetry'

Botanist and biologist Francis Hallé introduces a new world of rainforest flora in his latest art-driven book.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Destination of the week: Portland, Maine

Get out your walking shoes and check out this city by the sea.




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Destination of the week: Sapporo

If you like snow and don't mind crowds, check out this Japanese island city's snow festival. (It's a nice place to visit in the spring, summer and fall, too.)




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Croatia: Cosmopolitan vibes meet natural attractions

This up-and-coming destination is cheaper than its counterparts in Western Europe but no less attractive in terms of beauty, affordability and sustainability.




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A post-plastic yoga tote

A new yogitoes bag made of used plastic bottles combines a reusable tote with a yoga mat sling. Reduce waste while greening your yoga practice.




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Set sail to fight plastic pollution

Ten eco-activists are wanted for a 20-day eco-adventure, sailing from Hawaii to Vancouver while studying plastic pollution in the oceans.




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114,000 pounds of trash found at uninhabited islands

Divers scoured remote Pacific atolls to collect the garbage, some of which had entangled sea turtles.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Where has all the plastic pollution gone in the Indian Ocean?

The Indian Ocean is the world's biggest plastic dumping ground, but some of it is leaking elsewhere.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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9/11 tribute film spotlights the dogs and handlers who worked at Ground Zero

This explore.org film shows how service dog Abby and others helped in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001.




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Dogs share the spotlight with dancers for this stunning photo project

Photographers Kelly Pratt and Ian Kreidich capture ballet dancers and dogs in playful moments together.




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Those hotel mini soaps and shampoo bottles will soon be history

California joins some hotel chains in banning tiny toiletries.




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These special coats empower the homeless to turn their lives around

In 8 years, the Empowerment Plan nonprofit has distributed 35,000 coats to the homeless and hired 80 people.




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How to spot the perfect plum

From color to firmness, follow these four tips for picking a ripe, juicy plum every time.




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Pope's new car is a 20-year-old Renault

It's no fancy ride for Pope Francis — this humble new vehicle already has 190,000 miles on it.




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'Death star' vaporizes its own planet

'Death Star' Vaporizes Its Own Planet: 1st Evidence




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Pope blesses kid-built satellite bound for space

A tiny satellite built by grade schoolers may get a little help from above during its launch.




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The history of Brooklyn's polluted canal

Video: Assignment Earth explains why residents and government authorities are determined to clean up and revive the Gowanus Canal.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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When it comes to biodiversity, Alabama's Fern Cave is an under-the-radar hot spot

Fern Cave hosts a wealth of species, including the largest colony in the world of endangered gray bats and many other species.



  • Wilderness & Resources

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Imported hot sauces may contain lead

About 16 percent of hot sauces tested from Mexico and South America had lead in them. If you’re concerned about the lead in your hot sauce, try making your own.




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Flavored cigars rise in popularity among teens

While cigarette sales are slumping, sales for cigars have more than doubled in the last decade.



  • Fitness & Well-Being

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FDA proposes new nutrition labels for food

New labels would focus on sugar and calories and reflect a realistic serving size for the American diet.




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Why are white potatoes excluded from the WIC program?

Funding for many fresh fruits and vegetables increased with the new guidelines, but white potatoes have been excluded. Why?




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A safe way to dispose of unwanted pills at home

When there’s no take back program for unneeded or expired medications, the Pill Terminator makes them unpalatable to people and animals.




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Amy's Kitchen recalls products for possible listeria

The natural and organic food company recalled products with spinach after one of its suppliers found it may be tainted with Listeria monocytogenes.




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'Kids Eat Right' label to disappear as quickly as possible

The backlash from Kraft placing a healthy eating label on its processed cheese singles made the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics rethink the label’s use.




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FDA points finger at calories from added sugar

FDA floats proposal that would set 10% of total calories as the standard. So, if you drink a 16-ounce soda, you're done.




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'Organic' spotlights Hudson Valley farmers and chefs with stunning photography

Part work of art, part tribute to farmers who love the earth they work, this new book deserves to be out where people can see it.



  • Organic Farming & Gardening

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Use psychological tricks to drop the pounds

Sure, you've tried everything to lose weight — but have you put your brain to work?



  • Fitness & Well-Being

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Chipotle promotes its vegan Sofritas to meat eaters

Meant to satisfy vegans and carnivores, the shredded organic tofu filling is now available at all Chipotle restaurants.




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Chipotle's food is GMO-free, starting now

The restaurant chain known for sourcing free-range meats and organic ingredients ups its game by sourcing GMO-free ingredients.




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The power of the vegetarian veto

If a group goes out to eat and there's nothing for the veg crowd, guess what happens?




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Parents, 'No loud children allowed' policies are about you, not your kids

A California restaurant asks families with loud children to leave.




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Wines: A biodynamic Carmenere from Lapostolle

If you've never tried a Carmenere before, Lapostolle’s Alexandre Cuvee Carmenere would be a great bottle to start with.




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Do potatoes and toast pose a cancer risk?

Cooking starchy food at high temps for a long time can produce acrylamide, a chemical that may cause cancer.




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Roundup cover-up? Book paints troubling portrait of the world's most popular weed killer

Carey Gillam’s book "Whitewash" finds that glyphosate, the chemical in Monsanto’s Roundup, is everywhere – and evidence that it causes harm has been suppressed.



  • Organic Farming & Gardening

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The reason you pop popcorn 'This Side Up'

Microwave popcorn may be convenient, but there are some hidden health dangers inside the bag.




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U.S. seafood is widely mislabeled, report finds

Seafood fraud remains rampant in the U.S., according to a new investigation by Oceana, with one in five samples mislabeled.




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1 in 5 deaths globally linked to poor diet

Research finds a bad diet to be the biggest risk for early death worldwide.




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AltCarExpo: Not just for alt-car fans

The free AltCarExpo will give Southern Californians a look at the latest greener cars -- and car-free modes of transport.



  • Arts & Culture

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Titanium 'leaves' could unlock hydrogen power

The Artificial Inorganic Leaf (AIL) may unlock the secrets to producing cheap, clean hydrogen by mimicking the photosynthetic structure of the leaf.



  • Gadgets & Electronics

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Zero-emission fuel cell backup power now available for RVs

Unit from Germany is the answer for off-grid campsites, providing access to 'Glee' reruns, night lighting and microwaves that brown.




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Fuel-cell dreams: Powering houses and cars with zero-emission energy

Big hydrogen power plants like the one just installed in Bridgeport, Conn., can complement a fleet of fuel-cell cars.




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NASA just found plumes of water vapor bursting from Jupiter's moon

Water vapor escaping Europa hints at a vast saltwater ocean beneath its surface.




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NASA mission discovers first potentially habitable Earth-sized planet

NASA's Planet Hunter, TESS, discovered its first potentially habitable Earth-sized planet called TOI 700 d, located 100 light-years away.




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NASA video reconstructs the harrowing lunar journey of Apollo 13

Using images from its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, NASA reveals the moon's 'dark side' in 4K as observed by the Apollo 13 astronauts.