The last piece I published in 2015 was also one of my favorites. I covered how a public health crisis in London, incorrectly attributed to miasma, ended up saving lives (even though the science was wrong!).
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I Started Contributing Regularly to Mental Floss: Two New Stories
In the latter part of 2015, I started contributing regular stories to Mental Floss’ Science vertical; here are a couple of examples:
6 Rules for Touching Humans Based on Science
Do These Videos Show Trees “Breathing”?
I Was Called an “Insanely Inspiring” Eco Activist!
Aw, this one was so kind! What a great way to end 2015:
Starre Vartan, founder and editor of Eco-Chick, was one of the early bloggers and writers around the eco-fashion space. She has been out there building content and educating people. Education has always been a really important propellant in driving this movement forward, so I applaud her work.
I Have A Pair of (Organic Cotton) Pants Named After Me!
How fun is this? The Under the Canopy “Starre Pant” (named after yours truly) is available at Shop Ethica! I am superflattered, these pants look comfy and perfect for travel (two of my favorite things).
They are available in grey and blue.
- Under the Canopy works only with sustainable organic fabrics free of GMOs, toxic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers
- Dyes used by Under the Canopy are low-impact and free of formaldehyde, chlorine bleaches and heavy metals
- GOTS certification ensures that every step of the process in making UTC clothing–from farm to factory–is socially and environmentally responsible
- Organic cotton uses less water than conventional cotton, with no risk of chemical run-off polluting nearby waterways
I Wrote: How You May Be Eating Plastic and Fibers with Your Fish
Plastics aren’t the only thing that fish are eating; now they are consuming fibers (from our clothes washing machines) too. I wrote about a new study on the subject on what’s in fish stomachs—and what that may mean for human beings’ health—in my latest article for Mental Floss.
In short, “the mismanagement of our waste is coming back to haunt us in our food,” Chelsea Rochman, lead researcher for the study and a postdoctoral fellow in conservation biology at the University of California, Davis, told mental_floss.
Which is a nice way of saying we are eating our own garbage.
I Wrote: 5 Promising Male Birth Control Methods for Mental Floss
My first article for Mental Floss was on one of my favorite topics: Male Birth Control. I honestly think it would be a better world for men and women if men had more birth control options—women have more than a dozen—men have only 2.
Genuine Time OFF at The Retreat Costa Rica
Sometimes, you need to eat superhealthy food, relax, do mellow yoga, watch the butterflies, drink wine by the pool, swim under a waterfall and recharge with writers who spend too much time in front of the computer like you do! I did all that (and much more, check out the full story here) at The Retreat Costa Rica last week.
The mostly raw, vegan food; cleansing and filling, and local and delicious.
The butterfly garden.
The pool with writer-lady-friends!
The Yoga room, ready for us to relax.
Me, on my way to spa….
Ground cherries and local cheese.
The view from the open-air dining room….
See My Ethical Fashion Ensemble in People Tree’s Magazine The Eco Edit.
I have been a longtime fan of People Tree (the UK’s oldest ethical fashion brand), and I got the fun chance to choose an outfit and model it. I featured the ensemble on Eco-Chick, and People Tree also chose to highlight me in their fun quarterly magazine, The Eco Edit.
I Wrote: 10 Beautiful Travel Textiles for Conde Nast Traveler
I love picking up beautiful textiles when I travel the world; I turned one of my favorite hobbies into a deep dive into which are the most coveted textiles in some favorite travel destinations for Conde Nast Traveler.
My Article “7 Cultural Concepts We Don’t Have in the US” has over 200,000 Shares!
I’ve written lots of articles in my time, and I’ve had plenty go viral, but I think this is the first one I’ve ever had to go super-viral! And it’s one of my most favorite things I’ve written about too. Check out the full article on MNN.com here.
