Sex is complicated, you guys. And apparently, it’s pretty scientific, too.

Bill Nye recently appeared on National Geographic’s StarTalk. In this clip, you can see him give the short version why all animals — including humans — have sex. Get the down and dirty (and gene-driven) facts by watching the video below.

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The post Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson Get Sexy [Video] appeared first on EcoSalon.

Still photographer for National Geographic and North Face athlete Cory Richards will take your breath away in this promotional video that demonstrates the scope of his work capturing the beauty of this big wild world. Take 5 minutes out of your day to just sit and focus all of your attention on these gripping images.

A Tribute to Discomfort: Cory Richards from Blue Chalk on Vimeo.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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The post There’s a Big Wild World Out There, and It’s Too Beautiful for Words [Video] appeared first on EcoSalon.

It may be Christmas week, but we’re still surfing the web, and boy is it ever worth it. Here are some gems we read and want to share with you in this week’s Link Love.

Been there! Thirty-five and single? Here’s why it’s both amazing and terrible. [via MindBodyGreen]

Just in time for a smashing delicious New Year’s Eve party…a crudite upgrade! How to make the healthiest party appetizer sexier…yes please. [via Well + Good NYC]

Chris Hedges explores the sickening reality of what we feed our nation’s prisoners in this expose: Food Behind Bars Isn’t Fit for Your Dog. [via Nation of Change]

Are you there, God? It’s an 80-page Judy Blume interview. Lena Dunham gets dibs, but the 11-year-0ld girl in us thinks Judy would’ve been happy to pour her heart out to EcoSalon, too. [via Jewcy]

Buzzfeed got a sneak peek at some of National Geographic’s most amazing photos ever. They’re all that and then some. [via Buzzfeed]

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Image via Buzzfeed/National Geographic

The post Link Love: Sexy Appetizers + The Best Photos Ever + Are You There, God? It’s an 80-Page Judy Blume Interview appeared first on EcoSalon.

No matter how accomplished, cool, or experienced we are, all of us get scared sometimes.

Even veteran National Geographic photographers, like Paul Nicklen, who was, as he says in the video below, terrified, before meeting up with a huge leopard seal in Antarctic waters. Nicklen says, “my legs were shaking and I had dry-mouth.” What happened? How did he deal with facing fear? You have to check out this gorgeous video to find out! 

Related on Ecosalon: 

Captivity Sucks (And Doesn’t Have to Be Permanent): The Great Dolphin Escape

Breeding Endangered Species: Should We Be Giving Pandas Viagra?

The post Facing Fear: National Geographic Photographer Teaches us How in Scary Encounter with Leopard Seal (Video) appeared first on EcoSalon.

A round-up of what we’re reading right now. 

Striving to do better is good for business: environmentally conscious companies have more productive employees. [Via Co.EXIST]

Is soy a “dangerfood”? [Via Greatist]

Culinary collaborations can lead to great things, in this case, spicy hash browns. [Via BGSK]

It’s not just a Mars vs. Venus thing, men and women literally see things differently. [Via National Geographic]

The mysteries of coconut water finally solved. [Via Elephant Journal]

Apples are officially in season, celebrate with these 21 recipes. [Via Ecorazzi]

Why is it that women’s sports are still behind and what can we do about it? [Via The Daily Muse]

Just how do you impress someone with food in the great outdoors? [Via Adventure Journal]

Time to do more with your work space, like grow a garden. [Via Remodelista]

Economic booms and busts take a toll, as showcased in this photo series of abandoned motel pools. [Via Curbed]

Image: Andrea_Nguyen

The post Link Love: Why Soy is a Dangerfood, How Men and Women See Things Differently and the Mysteries of Coconut Water appeared first on EcoSalon.

A round-up of what we’re reading right now. 

What is the best endorsement Obama could have? Snoop Dogg of course. [Via Mother Jones]

In what could be the worst news of the week, Pat Robertson tells a man to move to Saudi Arabia so he can beat his wife (legally). [Via Gawker]

11 years later: take a moment today to remember September 11. Here is a photo gallery of the current construction for the memorial. [Via The Atlantic]

Are sea otters the solution to climate change? No, but they sure are helping. [Via National Geographic]

American Diplomacy has a new strategy, and it involves food. [Via TakePart]

The angst, the unease, and the trepidation of the difficulties of a post-9/11 world is making for a talented new group of young artists. [Via NPR]

PETA takes a stand and buys stock in Revlon in the organization’s ongoing attempt to get answers on the nail polish company’s involvement in animal testing. [Via Ethical Ocean]

Are you better off than you were four years ago? Signs point to yes and there’s someone to thank. [Via LearnVest]

A British trade union is proposing more regulations to make sure that models are well fed and paid. [Via High Low]

Image: mikebaird

The post Link Love: Snoop Dogg Loves Obama, Move to Saudia Arabia if You Have a ‘Problem’ Wife, and Sea Otters That Solve Climate Change appeared first on EcoSalon.

A round-up of what we’re reading right now.

Too busy for chores? Don’t worry, there’s Rent-a-Wife for that. [Via: Ethical Ocean]

How much water do we really use? You might be surprised. And not in a good way. [Via: TakePart]

If you’re into enjoying the sun, you might want to consider making one of these DIY summer hammocks. [Via: Gardenista]

Get hip and throw a Scandinavian sandwich party, your friends will thank you. [Via: Bon Appetit]

Inspire your own creativity; take time to be bored. [Via: The 99 Percent]

A simple video guide to what Rio+20 is all about. [Via: The Nation]

Celebrate in the fact that the younger generation knows a thing or too about being good people. At least some of them. [Via: The Frisky]

The beginning of summer means the beginning of travel season. Make sure you’re a good traveler. No wait, a really good one. [Via: National Geographic]

Image: x-ray delta one

The post Link Love: Rent-a-Wife, A Real Look at Water Use and The Importance of Being Bored appeared first on EcoSalon.

When you decide to make changes in your life to reflect a more environmentally responsible lifestyle, the first place many of turn to for information is the web. There are plenty of green blogs with terrific information (ahem!), but if you’re looking for one of the best definitive and all-encompassing websites out there, be sure to bookmark National Geographic’s Green Guide.

Accumulating tips on green living is great but when you want to dig into the reasons why the choices we make are important, the Green Guide is a terrific resource. There are scads of articles that dig into the science of subjects like allergies and the toxins in modern cooking equipment. Other articles are packed with information on the efficacy of carbon offsets and where to find eco-friendly ales.

Many of the green choices we make as adults are for the betterment of future generations. The Green Guide has a whole offers sections devoted to bringing today’s youth into the fold with stories on where to find sweat-free college sweatshirts to throwing tot-oriented birthday parties that give back. There’s even an entire section devoted to babies and toddlers who want to live eco-friendly but just don’t know it yet.

The Green Guide isn’t just for people new to the eco-aware way of life – there’s plenty of information for people who’ve been living sustainably for years. Be sure to check out the many quizzes sprinkled throughout the website to brush up on your knowledge on topics like global warming and cutting gas emissions. Technology changes so fast that there might be new developments you haven’t even heard about yet.

Of course, you don’t want to give up reading your favorite green blogs, but be sure to add National Geographic’s Green Guide to your arsenal of tools that keep you up to date on the latest in eco-living. Oh, and of course, the articles have the coolest pictures around.

The post NatGeo’s Green Guide: A Go-To Resource for Eco-Living Advice appeared first on EcoSalon.