Here are the whats, wheres, whens, whys, and hows of the plant world’s favorite bug spray. The Environmental Protection Agency has approved neem oil as a pesticide, thanks to its waxy consistency that traps bugs and its active ingredient, Azadirachtin. This chemical mimics a bug’s natural hormones but disrupts its ability to feed and lay eggs1. When routinely sprayed on a plant, it will cause any hungry bugs who eat it to “eventually starve as well as have their maturation and reproductive cycles interrupted,” Leslie F....

And now, a new study1 suggests that living in a polluted area is associated with a higher likelihood of developing glaucoma, a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, which is essential for healthy vision. When the results of the glaucoma tests were compared to the fine participate matter levels in the area, there was a strong link. The data showed those living in the most polluted areas had a 6% higher risk of having glaucoma and a significantly greater risk of having a thinner retina, which is one of the common changes seen in glaucoma progression....

As founder and educational director of the Love and Light School of Crystal Therapy Ashley Leavy previously explained to mbg, birthstones have roots in both Western astrology and Ayurveda, and the National Association of Jewelers actually standardized the official birthstones in 1912 because there were so many birthstone options across various traditions. Birthstones even appear in the book of Exodus (28:17-20), where it’s written that 12 gemstones were fixed on the prophet Aaron’s breastplate....

Sagittarius, on the other hand, is a mutable fire sign, and the ninth sign of the astrological year. It’s also ruled by Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion. Unlike Taurus’ preference for stability and routine, Sagittarius wants to adventure and explore and be spontaneous. Franklinly, Taurus and Sagittarius embody very different qualities. As astrologer Molly Pennington, Ph.D., tells mbg, “There is not a lot to support the relationship between these two....

Before you ask: Yes, these tattoos look incredibly natural. It’s actually a super-detailed process called scalp micropigmentation, and it camouflages thinning hair in a very precise way. If you’re at all curious about this inking method and how it works, check out our expert-led guide below. You might think it sounds similar to eyebrow microblading (another permanent tattoo procedure), but they actually require very different tools, pigments, and techniques. See, microblading uses full strokes to mimic the actual wisps of hair, whereas SMP places the ink in teeny dots to create shadow—which creates a softer, more natural-looking effect....

Here’s what to know about the astrological compatibility between Sagittarius and Scorpio. Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac, and Sagittarius is the ninth, making this pairing a semisextile aspect that sits one sign apart. When thinking about semisextile couples, you do not get quite the positive impression you would as when thinking of a trine pair since they are so different on the surface. Scorpio is fixed, and Sagittarius is mutable....

And while it’s fine to keep your plant in its plastic home for the time being, you won’t want to leave it there forever. The reason being that unless your plant was propagated and grown locally, it’s likely been sitting in that pot for a while. Especially if comes from a large nursery (Costa Farms, Rocket Farms, and Altman Plants are some big names in the U.S.), there’s a chance that quite a bit of time has passed since it was packaged, shipped, stocked on new shelves, and sold to you....