I’ve loved the Oregon Zoo since I was a child—the groovy mosaic and sculpture of turtles outside signaling excitement that was inside. The zoo has transformed in the last thirty years, that two-turnstile mosaic entryway giving way to a massive entrance for the most attended paid tourist attraction in Oregon. I’ve gone from funky bell-bottoms to organic Mom clothes, trying to spend my money on things that reflect a more concerned, careful way of living. Already sold on the vastly improved habitats and the mission of the zoo, I was astounded to learn just how passionate the people who run it are.

We've written before about biodegradable plastics, such as the corn-based containers used at eco-minded stores like Wild Oats. The containers are a great idea in theory, and could one day revolutionize the fast-food industry. But for the moment, the containers can pose a problem.

Could Styrofoam someday be biodegradable? New research has found that microbes can help turn the notoriously hard-to-break-down material, which