Plastics are flooding into the oceans. But you can help.

This story is part of a series on ocean plastics.

Plastics are overwhelming our oceans and landfills. Every year, an estimated 19 billion pounds of plastic garbage end up in the sea. In the U.S. alone, approximately 56 billion pounds of plastic are dumped annually in landfills.

Worryingly, it remains unknown exactly how all these plastics ― which don’t biodegrade and could linger in the environment for centuries ― could impact human health and the world around us. But here’s a heartening truth: We can all do something to mitigate this growing plastics crisis. Yes, all. From entrepreneurs and corporations who need to rethink the way plastic products are designed and manufactured; to lawmakers who can push for the protection of fragile environments from plastic pollution; to individuals (that means you) whose seemingly small daily actions can add up to something huge, we all have a role to play. Read more

In the modern world the availability of clean drinking water is a major backbone of our civilisation. We hardly think about what happens when we turn on a tap in our home and have an unlimited supply of clean and safe drinking water.

However, despite the availability of clean water there are still issues with the public water supply, in the US there are, on average, almost 7,000 boil water notices which is when water companies require water to be boiled before it can be safely drunk due to problems with the supply which cause it to become unsafe to drink. Additionally there are notable issues where the water supply has been contaminated and potentially poses a risk to those who drink it. Read more

The Greenpeace project is part of mission to create a massive Antarctic sanctuary.

The Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise near an iceberg in Charlotte Bay in the Antarctic Ocean.

A crew of scientists on a mission for Greenpeace have surfaced with astounding first-ever photos from the depths of the Antarctic Ocean showing surprisingly diverse and abundant life even in the frigid dark.

The mission, involving state-of-the-art submersibles launched from the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, aims to discover new life, gather data and help develop a love and appreciation for the Antarctic Ocean. Its key goal is to build support to create the largest protected area in the world: a 700,000-square-mile Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary where industrial fishing would be banned. Read more

The magnificent wonder of watching a waterfall is enough to leave even the most indoorsy among us totally awestruck. Whether you’re taking in the falls from a roadside overlook or hiking for a closer view, here are some of the world’s most wondrous falls you definitely don’t want to miss.

Angel Falls: Auyantepui, Venezuela

Difficulty: 5

Dropping over the edge of the Auyantepui mountain, Angel Falls is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall with a height of 3,212 feet. Situated within the Canaima National Park, this is one of Venezuela’s top tourist attractions — despite the fact they are slightly challenging to reach. A flight is required from Puerto Ordaz or Ciudad Bolívar to reach the starting point for river trips to the base of the falls, which are led by native guides from June to December. Read more

The term “dehydration” sounds very serious. You think it has nothing to do with you. It would only happen in poor countries or severe disasters like earthquakes right? No. Dehydration is way too common than most people think.

75% of Americans1 are chronically dehydrated and don’t even know it. And even mild dehydration can affect our bodies and how we feel a lot. Think about this. “60 percent of our bodies is composed of water, 75 percent in our muscles, 85 percent in our brains, it’s like oil to a machine,” said Dr. Roberta Lee from Clear Lake Regional Medical Centre.

When you’re feeling unwell, quite often it might be the result of dehydration. Check the signs below and you’ll be surprised that how dehydrated your body often is and how some of the annoying health issues can actually be resolved so easily. Read more