From sea to shining sea.

Even as coastal cities erupt into divisive arguments about rent prices and the shrinking square footage of their apartments, vast swaths of the country remain refreshingly free of human presence. Stephen van Worley, a data scientist and artist who blogs at Data Pointed, created a map of the United States using data from the 2010 U.S. Census.

The black areas represent every U.S. Census block with less than one resident per square mile. City dwellers who are getting tired of fighting for an inch of living space in places like northern California or Manhattan might consider moving to the nearly deserted (pun intended) Nevada. A down jacket costs considerably less than a month’s rent in San Francisco, which makes Alaska a viable option:

Or if the freezing temperatures and icy winds prove to be too forbidding, Hawaii’s sandy beaches remain mostly secluded as well.

The statistics seem a little outlandish: Only 0.05% of the American population is scattered over nearly 60% of the land. Of course, there might be other factors at play that determine whether or not someone might want to live in the middle of the country. Far from the ocean’s moderating influence on the climate, the middle of the country is suffering disproportionately from natural disasters caused, in part, by global warming.

Maybe we’ll just buy smaller refrigerators to fit into our tiny houses.

Images: Data Pointed.

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Or at least, what we thought of doing.

Even if you’re afraid that Google Skynet might still be a distant possibility, it’s still mind-blowing to realize how much data passes through Google’s servers on a daily basis. Earlier this month, the team at Google Maps compiled data from the end of May to the beginning of September. They looked at all the searches from maps.google.com in the Northern Hemisphere to find out what a lot of people thought of doing this summer.

Camping was the top-searched activity in France, while in Canada and Spain, the top-rated search was for the beach (or as they say, “la playa”). In Great Britain, squash appears to be a highly popular summer activity, while the Dutch appear to have a great love for theme parks.

Here in the United States, paintball was the top searched-for activity. But Google also plotted out the most popular landmarks in the United States by how often they were searched for, which resulted in some good news for those of us currently living on the West Coast. Death Valley, Redwoods and Yosemite National Park beat out other popular tourist attractions by far.

It looks like Ken Burns hit the nail on the head when he termed the national parks to be “America’s best idea.” Is it too early to start planning next summer’s vacation?

Image: Google Official Blog

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It is not just a funk.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can be devastating, a yearly onslaught of anxiety, lethargy and hopelessness that is as predictable as the turning of the leaves, or the coming of the rain. Drugs are one of the last options, and no one should be judged for using whatever tools they have to escape what can become an unbearable situation. But before you ask your doctor for a prescription, you might want to try these ten alternative methods to help combat your yearly SAD.

Open the Blinds

If you can’t go outside due to rain, cold or snow, optimize your interior environment. Trade your heavy, insulating summer window treatments for lighter curtains or blinds. Trim trees that cover your windows. Take your laptop and work from your kitchen table or in a room with better light.

Absorb Some Negative Ions

A few studies have shown that an atmosphere rich in negative ions might be an effective, and specific, treatment for seasonal depression. If you don’t feel like shelling out the thirty dollars to purchase a negative ionizer, hanging out in warm, humid places, like a hot bath or a sauna, would do the trick.

Get Outside

Unless you live in Alaska or Antarctica, you will see some small amount of sunlight during the day, even if the light is obscured by clouds. A brief, brisk walk — preferably in the morning, to help set your Circadian rhythm — will stave off some of SAD’s symptoms. Additional studies show that exposure to nature helps elevate your mood.

Work Out Regularly

Your depression will only be exacerbated if you let yourself become rundown. Exercise releases endorphins and strengthens your immune system. It also has other, immeasurable positive side effects—for example, increased confidence if you meet your training goals. Planning your daily workout can also give you you a necessary distraction from your worries.

Meditate

Instead of being a source of joy and anticipation, the holidays are one of the biggest stressors in the colder months. Contemplating the travel, the cost and fragile family relationships can often drive even happy, stable people round the bend. Every day, take a few minutes to sit still, listen to your breathing and concentrate your attention on the present moment, instead of the future or the past. As Dr. Andrew Weil writes in his book Spontaneous Happiness, fragmented attention can lead to poor emotional health.

Eat Fish and Drink Milk

Omega-3s have been shown to have a mood-stabilizing effect. Researchers speculate that increasing omega-3 levels in your diet might make it possible for serotonin, a mood-affecting neurotransmitter, to pass through your cell membranes. If you can’t stomach the taste of salmon, increasing your tryptophan levels has also been shown to help alleviate depression. Try drinking a cup of warm milk before bedtime.

Fill Up Your Social Calendar

An unnecessarily cruel side effect of depression is that it causes you to want to withdraw from the world. It also makes you misread social cues and react to negative ones more strongly. But keeping up with your friends and family will also help lift your mood. Instead of trying to attend holiday parties, find the time to get coffee or watch a movie with a close friend.

Try Light Therapy

Light therapy is one of the single fastest ways to treat depression. With a light box, symptoms usually ease within four to seven days (antidepressants can take up to four to seven weeks to work). When choosing a light box, make sure that you’re buying one specifically for seasonal depression. Light therapy is also used to treat skin disorders, and those that emit UV rays can damage your eyes.

Get a Massage

Admittedly, the studies on whether or not massage is an effective treatment for depression, in particular, are a little crude. It’s impossible to create a “blind” study and give a massage to a test subject without him or her knowing it. Nevertheless, preliminary results are encouraging. Massage reduces stress and induces relaxation, as well as provoking the release of soothing oxytocin.

Take a Trip

If all else fails, schedule a vacation in February or March for a warmer, sunnier clime. Even a temporary lifting of your depression is better than none at all. And doesn’t travel solve virtually everything?

Images: lrargerich, Boris Mitendorfer Photography, e-wander.

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Sssssh.

In some parts of the country, going back to school has been fraught with turbulent debates. Luckily, there are supplemental educational tools lying all around — and they’re free, if you have a library card. Take a quick look at these ten infographics, and then snuggle in a corner or a carrel with your latest novel.

Most Targeted Books: The Catcher in the Rye is just one of a list of books that librarians and parents have found objectionable over the years.

Orwell Vs. Huxley: Huxley’s depressing dystopian future seems a bit more accurate than Orwell’s.

The DNA of a Successful Book: Surprisingly, books with a female protagonist are more likely to be successful.

Teaching Us to Read Again: E-readers may be our ticket back to a literate public.

Ray Bradbury Predictions Fulfilled: Science fiction’s predictive powers are truly amazing.

Battle of the Bookworms: In this digital age, e-readers might be overpowering traditional readers.

Do Self-Published Authors Make Money?: A lot more than we thought.

The Top 10 Most Read Books In the World: Over the last 50 years, Harry Potter has outpaced Anne Frank.

Plot Lines: This interesting infographic traces the elements of every successful novel.

What Should You Read This Summer?: Maybe you won’t be luxuriating in a book poolside, but there are still plenty of hours to get some reading done.

Image: the pale side of insomnia

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Women as powerful role models (despite TV portraying them as weak).

The preliminary studies are in, and the results are depressing, if obvious. In a study conducted by Christopher Ferguson, a psychology professor at Texas A&M International University, sexually violent television shows with submissive female characters made men reflect more negative attitudes towards women, and made women more anxious. Fortunately, the inverse is also true. Seeing sexual violence in the media, but with strong female leads (think Buffy and Law and Order: SVU) actually reported less anxiety than the control group.

The message is clear: The more strong role models that women see, the stronger we feel. And as bona fide members of the media, we at EcoSalon felt we had to do out part to cover as many strong women as possible. These ten real-life heroines went above and beyond to help protect others.

Erin Bolster

This 25-year-old wrangler from Roanoke, Virginia, saved an eight-year-old from a charging grizzly bear. Bolster was guiding eight clients on a short trail ride when a grizzly, chasing a deer, cut into their group. The eight-year-old’s mount panicked. Rather than following suit, Bolster turned her truck-sized horse Tonk and galloped after the griz. She charged the bear three times before the bear gave up, allowing her to return the boy to his very worried father.

Ann Timson

An onlooker filmed this seventy-plus British granny making a beeline towards six men breaking into a jewelry shop in Northampton, England. Initially, Timson thought that the men were beating someone up. When she realized that they were robbing a jewelry store in broad daylight, she started hitting them with her handbag. The men cleared out, leaving Timson a little winded but unharmed.

Kate Winslet

A stunning actress and devoted mother, Winslet added “action hero” to her resume when she saved Richard Branson’s 90-year-old mother. During Hurricane Irene, a lightning strike hit Branson’s vacation home in the British Virgin Islands. Branson was staying in the Great House next door while his mother and twenty other guests stayed in the main house. By the time that Branson heard screams and rushed outside, he found that Winslet — who had already ushered her boyfriend and two children to safety — had carried out his mother.

Stephanie Davies

For those who lost friends and family in the Colorado shooting earlier this summer, platitudes are an empty consolation. But Barack Obama commended 21-year-old Stephanie Davies for keeping that number just a little lower than it might have been. When Davies’ friend Allie Young was felled by bullet wounds to the neck and liver, Davies pulled Young out of the aisle, applied pressure to the wound and kept Young calm. After the shooting stopped, Davies carried Young out and placed her in a waiting ambulance. Both survived.

Lauren Kornacki

Mothers have been known to find superhuman strength to save a child in need…but what about daughters? Alec Kornacki was pinned underneath his BMW when it slipped off the jack. His 22-year-old daughter Lauren found him in the garage and lifted the car off him, shoved it aside, and grabbed her father out from under it. Alec’s heart had stopped beating, but Lauren performed two sets of mouth-to-mouth until his breathing resumed. He had two broken ribs and other fractures, but he survived.

Gert Boyle

The chairwoman of Columbia Sportswear is as tough as her gear. After escaping Nazi Germany at 13, her family came to the United States and founded the now world-famous outdoor clothing company. When a group of men attempted to rob her house and hold her for ransom, Boyle told them that she had to disable the home alarm system. Instead, she hit the silent panic button. Within minutes, the police had arrived, foiling the group’s plans.

Teresa McCoy

The 37-year-old nurse had just finished the bike portion of the Meek & Mighty triathlon in St. Anthony’s, Florida, when she saw cops huddled by a downed fellow rider. The cops thought he had had a seizure, but McCoy checked for a pulse and didn’t find one. She yelled for a defibrillator and got to work, performing CPR on the man and then shocking him. When the paramedics arrived, McCoy got back on her bike and finished the race.

Rain Dove

When the 22-year-old woman saw twelve men beating another man at an Oakland bus stop, she assumed that the fight would quickly break up. After all, nearly 40 people were watching. When no one made a move, she ran across the street and pulled two men off him before attending to the victim. The assailants continued to harass and threaten Dove, but a witness said that she responded, “You’ve done enough. You can either keep threatening me, a defenseless unarmed woman trying to provide medical services to a dying man, or you can go get this guy some water like a decent human being.” Paramedics assured Dove that the man will likely make a full recovery.

Keenia Williams

Most people would stay well away from a flipped-over big rig on the highway, and especially one that was on fire. But when 22-year-old Keenia Williams saw the truck driver struggle out of the cab and collapse, she immediately stopped her car and ran over to help. She dragged trucker Michael Finerty out of the path of the flames and restored him to consciousness by splashing water on his face. For her actions, Williams was named a finalist for the 2012 Congressional Medal of Honor.

Anonymous Woman

Traffic videos show a mystery woman coming to the rescue of a young man sustaining a vicious attack. The woman crosses the street, shoos the attackers off the victim, and stands over him while waiting for help. She remains unidentified — as do the millions of other women who perform daily acts of heroism without being acknowledged or praised. The next time you see women playing the part of helpless victims on television, remember these real life wonder women.

Images: bbaltimore, Jackson Hole Central Reservations, smittenkittenoriginals, brixton21, msandman, AlishaV, blmiers2, andy_tyler, jeffyoungstrom, J Jackson Photography, Greater Manchester Police.

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Jewelry is just art you can wear.

For thousands of years, the beauty of gems and jewelry have driven people mad with lust. It’s not surprising that some enterprising, if not unscrupulous, people have tried to capitalize on these desires — either by thieving away real pieces or creating new, fake ones. The scholar Charles Truman recently reported that out of 49 pieces in the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a whopping 34 are fakes.

These ten infographics won’t help you spot any counterfeits, but they will give you some data to ponder while you save up for your next treasure.

The Most Expensive Jewelry Ever Sold at Auction: Gems that are flawless or have historical value have unimaginably high prices.

The World’s Biggest Heists: Even seemingly impenetrable vaults can be vulnerable.

Gold Rush: Gold is valuable, but Peyton Manning more so.

Blood Diamonds on the High Street: Ask where your diamond was mined to ensure that it comes from a conflict-free area.

History of the Modern Treasure Hunter: If you’re a scuba diver, sunken ships are a great source of lost treasure.

Global Gold Mines: Where is the gold?

Counterfeit Currency: It’s much easier to counterfeit goods than it is to fake currency.

History of a Diamond: Ancient Romans believed that diamonds were splinters from falling stars.

Cracking Fort Knox: If you’re planning an attempt on the most secure vault in the world…don’t.

The Gold Tree: Nearly 51% of gold mined today is used in jewelry.

Image: metalriot

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Smarts and speed can’t protect a dolphin from pollution.

No doubt about it: The ocean isn’t always a friendly place. That’s why otters, dolphins and clownfish, among others, have developed defense mechanisms to protect themselves in their underwater homes. But conditions are changing, faster and beyond the animals’ ability to evolve. For example, spinner dolphins in Hawaii now endure daily harassment from tourists who want to see their aerial acrobatics. If this is how we treat a species that we love, how can we be expected to treat all the creatures that we’ve just forgotten about?

Ocean conservation nonprofit Surfrider, in conjunction with Los Angeles-based design and advertising firm Saatchi & Saatchi, aims to make sure that we don’t forget. Together with production designer Bruce McCloskey, special effects artist, puppeteer, model maker and production designer Greg Aronowitz, and production designer Paul Rice, the two organizations created the exhibit Ocean Armor, which will run at the Aquarium of the Pacific from September 15 to November 15.

The artists produced four life-sized sets of armor for four animals — the clownfish, the bottlenose dolphin, the Alaskan sea otter and the red-crowned crane. Each set of armor draws from a different set of influences; for example, the red-crowned crane’s eight-foot wingspan is (allegorically) protected by a suit inspired by 12th-century samurai, incorporating lacquered steel, leather and silk. In contrast, the clownfish’s normally playful visage is safeguarded under grim plates inspired by eighth-century Greek armor.

The striking, lovingly-wrought creations drive home a poignant point: These animals need protection from human depredation. In order to derive some solutions, the Aquarium of the Pacific will also debut Ocean in Motion on September 15. The exhibit aims to educate audiences about the links between human activity and ocean life by examining issues like overfishing and dead zones in the ocean.

Looked at from one perspective, the concept behind the exhibit could seem a little shrill: After all, if you covered an otter with plate armor, it would sink to the bottom of the sea. But oil runoff and competition for food and habitat are just as serious a threat to the species’ survival as burning arrows and swords used to be to the Greeks.

For more information, check out the exhibit’s website. To see what other projects Surfrider has on the table, check their website here.

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We heart pets.

For most families, Labor Day weekend involves travel. And many of us will have have to wrestle with the eternal question: Do we take Reggie to the lake, or drop him off at the kennel? 62% of U.S. households own a pet. These 10 infographics might not help you make a more informed decision, but they will remind you to give someone a scratch and a treat this weekend.

The First Dogs and Their Presidents: The Obamas’ Bo is in illustrious company.

Are Pets Good for your Health?: Owning a dog can help you stay fit, even if walks do cut into your downtime.

Deadliest Animals in the United States: A deer would make a terrible pet.

Aquarium Facts and Figures: Aquariums bring a corner of the oceans, right into your living room.

How Animals See the World: Dogs and cats might not be able to see color, but they are extremely sensitive to movement.

Foods Never to Feed Your Dog: For a species that has been living off our scraps for millennia, dogs have some unexpected intolerances.

Pampered Pets: Even as the economy tanks, we still find ways to indulge our beloved companions.

Moving with Pets: Don’t let an upcoming move force you to leave Buttercup in the shelter.

Best and Worst Pets for Apartment Living: Tarantulas are an underrated pet.

Social Networking & Man’s Best Friend: Dog owners are profoundly weird.

Image: magnetisch.

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Raise your glass.

As this year’s election approaches, EcoSalon would like to make two points in the sitting president’s favor: Mr. Obama is married to a prominent locavore, and he’s interested in craft brewing, even to the extent of traveling on the campaign trail with White House ales on the bus. Alcohol consumption hasn’t been a point of legislative contention since the start of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, here’s some data with which to toast the candidates.

Beer: You’re in the Clear: 14 things that you probably didn’t know about beer consumption.

Prohibition Did What?!: Prohibition had a huge effect on American alcohol consumption.

The Remedy: Hangover cures from all over the globe.

Alcohol vs. Marijuana: Alcohol is still a lot more popular than marijuana.

Pick Your Poison: Wine and beer are almost equally popular.

What Are Green Wines?: Are taste and sustainability mutually exclusive when it comes to wine?

The Very Many Varieties of Beer: Distinguish your milds from your browns from your lambics.

Visualizing Alcohol Use: Who imbibes the most?

Beer Saved the World: As a species, we’d be nowhere without beer.

Classic Cocktails: Recipes for all the classic cocktails, if you can divine them through the madness of this infographic.

Image: lindsey gee.

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There are much more colorful reasons to hang out and talk.

Ever since Girls aired on HBO, female friendship has been the catchphrase du jour. That’s not surprising news to most of us, who would be lost without a close circle of girls with whom to commiserate and celebrate. But without structured activities, making time to see friends can take a backseat to work and family commitments. A book club might seem edifying and fun…at first. But we can’t think of anything more awkward than sitting in a living room, nibbling crudités while trying not to compare protagonists to each other’s exes for an hour. Thankfully, there are dozens of alternatives. We’ve listed just a few of them here.

1. Play kickball.

Girl’s nights out are stereotypically sedentary activities — drinking wine, or going to the spa. That’s fine for some, but what if you and your friends are a little more active? When the weather’s nice, meet up in the park after work with a cooler and a few camp chairs. The more friends you bring, the easier it will be to kick the seventh-graders off the baseball diamond.

2. Brew beer.

Homebrewing is an arduous process. Like other labor-intensive pursuits, it’s easy to put off shopping, boiling and bottling until your carboy is coated with an inch-thick layer of dust. Take turns meeting at each other’s houses and choosing recipes. A little extra help and company goes a long way. As an added bonus, you can throw a party every few months with the finished product!

3. Take a trip.

Granted, there aren’t too many examples of the female buddy road trip that don’t mention the names “Thelma” or “Louise.” But even a journey as small as to a local campground with burgers and marshmallows will give you and your best female girlfriends an experience to share. And stepping out of your comfort zone together is a great way to come up with new things to reminisce about.

4. Host a clothing swap.

Going shopping is the ultimate girls’ day out activity. But our feelings on fast fashion and conspicuous consumption are well-known. Luckily, there’s no reason to buy new clothes when your friends probably have unworn dresses and shrunken sweaters that they’d be happy to pass on — and so do you. Don’t forget to wear a clean pair of undies.

5. Start a knitting circle.

You don’t have to meet at each other’s homes either — or quote Little House on the Prairie. Enliven your weekly knitting circle by meeting up at a bar to knit over a pint or two. If you’re a little inexperienced, or have a low alcohol tolerance, make sure that you use washable yarn.

6. Make a zine.

For an example of what friends can create together when they have a little spare time and a common fascination, check out Girl Crush Zine, an ode to Nora Ephron, Charlotte Gainsbourg and all the random women who inspire us. If a few of your friends have a way with words or a pen — or even if they don’t — brainstorming ideas is a great way to spur conversations and inspirations.

7. Sing karaoke.

There is no better bonding experience than complete and repeated public humiliation — just ask any drill sergeant. If the idea of standing in front of strangers at a local bar sounds more terrifying than fun, there are karaoke bars that rent out private rooms.

8. Learn a new skill.

All of us have relatively simple tasks that we need to outsource. Some of us can’t change a car’s oil or hem a pair of jeans. Harness the power of the collective and find out if one of your friends has some skills that she could pass on to you in a Sunday afternoon lesson. If you can’t find a single person who knows how to repair a fence, send out for a pizza and put all your wits and hands to the task.

9. Rock some bar games.

Women have an undeserved reputation for being catty and competitive. This myth is, in fact, almost the exact opposite of reality — most women are conditioned to be nurturers, to be empathetic and to downplay their successes. A little healthy competition between you and your friends will help all of you learn how to encourage each other. Try to rack up the highest points at skee ball or make teams for shuffleboard.

10. Watch Sex and the City.

Okay. So perhaps watching this supposedly iconic television show wouldn’t be our preferred activity to bond with any of our friends (at least, if the stated intention is to make those bonds stronger, instead of weaker). Maybe instead, we could all dial a few numbers and spend some time on the phone, hearing real live voices and finding out what each of our nearest and dearest would like to do, instead of catching up via Facebook?

Image: sparkleawk, Oberazzi, carobe, melloveschallah, JudyGR, andie712b, hellojenuine, derekGavey, buhtterfly, Mr. T in DC, Eva Abreu.

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