Mary Jo DiLonardo | MNN - Mother Nature Network

Mary Jo DiLonardo

Mary Jo DiLonardo is a senior writer and editor at MNN. She has covered health, education, parenting, pets and more for media outlets such as WebMD and Atlanta magazine, and has contributed to CNN.com, Ladies Home Journal, Parents and Family Fun magazines. She wrote a family travel book for Random House and worked on several national radio shows.

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house blueprint with germs in many rooms

house blueprint with germs in many rooms

7 of the dirtiest places in the average home

August 21, 2017, 10:50 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

Hygiene expert Charles Gerba (aka, Dr. Germ) looks at living spaces as new opportunities for bacteria to thrive.

Retriever holding tennis ball

Retriever holding tennis ball

How does DNA affect a dog's behavior?

August 21, 2017, 7:21 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

You and your dog can become citizen scientists and help researchers find out.

100-million-year-old flowers found in amber

100-million-year-old flowers found in amber

100-million-year old flowers found perfectly preserved in amber

August 20, 2017, 4:42 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

They were likely dislodged from trees by dinosaurs.

woman in straw hat sunbathing on the beach

woman in straw hat sunbathing on the beach

Eating at odd times might affect your skin's defense against the sun

August 18, 2017, 11:16 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

A new study suggests eating late may make you more susceptible to sunburn, aging and skin cancer.

Bert and Winter are two of the pets available for adoption at the Humane Society of North Texas.

Bert and Winter are two of the pets available for adoption at the Humane Society of North Texas.

It's time to clear the shelters and get all pets new homes

August 17, 2017, 10:04 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

Nationwide pet adoption event offers free or reduced fees to empty the kennels.

herd of wild horses being rounded up in Sabucedo, Galicia, Spain

herd of wild horses being rounded up in Sabucedo, Galicia, Spain

Galicia's wild horse roundup pits tradition versus animal rights

August 16, 2017, 4:06 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

The annual tradition is being compared by some to bullfighting.

Keith Davison watches neighborhood kids splash in his backyard pool.

Keith Davison watches neighborhood kids splash in his backyard pool.

Lonely widower installs pool for neighbor kids

August 14, 2017, 1:32 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

94-year-old now hears laughter all day as he watches children play.

Chantek the orangutan at Zoo Atlanta

Chantek the orangutan at Zoo Atlanta

Why do great apes have heart disease?

August 14, 2017, 8:24 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

The Great Ape Heart Project brings together experts nationwide to study data and look for answers.

dogs sniff the art at Dogumenta

dogs sniff the art at Dogumenta

Art (literally) goes to the dogs in NYC

August 11, 2017, 11:26 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

At Dogumenta, pups can eat, sniff and even mark the art.

high school students examining DNA model and taking notes in science class

high school students examining DNA model and taking notes in science class

Interest in science is contagious

August 10, 2017, 12:04 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

This enthusiasm can lead to careers in science fields, researchers find.

A massive wildfire burns in Greenland.

A massive wildfire burns in Greenland.

Greenland is fighting a massive wildfire (and that's weird)

August 9, 2017, 1:03 p.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

Researchers are unsure what triggered the blaze or how long it will last.

smiling basenji dog wearing headphones

smiling basenji dog wearing headphones

Are audiobooks the secret to a calmer dog?

August 9, 2017, 9:12 a.m. by Mary Jo DiLonardo

Cesar Millan and Audible have partnered to offer narration for pups.

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