Big Picture Science for Dec 17, 2018 - Yule Like This

Big Picture Science - Yule Like This

Fir tree needles embedded in carpet are a holiday headache.  Why not decorate a genetically-modified, needle-retaining tree instead?  It’s just another way that science is relevant to the holidays.  We have more.

How about science experiments on fruitcake?  There’s a competition that includes launching it with a pneumatic device, running a heavy electric current though it, or blasting it with a blowtorch.  Meanwhile, physics provides insight into those tricky how-does-he-do-it questions about Santa’s delivery rounds.

Finally, step away from the relatives and consider the implications of the winter solstice.

Enjoy a better holiday through science!

Guests:

• Jenna Gallas – Special Event Coordinator, Manitou Springs Chamber of Congress, Colorado
• Laura Kramer – Manager of Science Conductors, Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond
• Lilian Matallana – Research Associate, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
• Ben Orlin – Math teacher, and author of “Math with Bad Drawings: Illuminating the Ideas That Shape Our Reality”
• Ethan Siegel – Theoretical astrophysicist and owner of “Starts with a Bang!” blog
• Andrew Fraknoi – Astronomer and educator, author of “Introduction to Astronomy”

Download podcast at: http://bigpicturescience.org/episodes/yule

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://bigpicturescience.org/, and be sure to check out Blog Picture Science, the companion blog to the radio show.