December 31, 2014

Mummers Parade – String Bands

Since 1902, the “String Band” of the Mummers Parade has been revered by Mummers and townspeople alike.

December 30, 2014

Year End Fire Watch

“Be careful with fire!” is the call heard throughout Tokyo neighborhoods on the last two evenings of the year.

December 29, 2014

Wassail

An ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition called “Wassail” lives on in Pennsylvania, where a group of friends celebrate this week by drinking to the health of apple trees.

December 26, 2014

Kwanzaa – Traditions

This week, millions of people around the world celebrate Kwanzaa, a relatively new holiday with roots in the ancient harvest festivals of Africa.

December 25, 2014

Kalas

In Lindsborg, Kansas, folks still mark this time of year with traditions their ancestors brought from Sweden.

December 24, 2014

Christmas Eve in Woodstock

It’s Christmas Eve in the “most famous small town in the world”, and big question is how is Santa going to arrive this year?

December 23, 2014

Christmas Bonfires – Tradition

Along the banks of the Mississippi River, a line of Bonfires lights the way for Papa Noel.

December 22, 2014

Seasonal Science – Secrets

When you find grooves in the snow, or piles of pine cone chips – who has been there? Learn about the signs that animals leave behind.

December 19, 2014

Seasonal Science – Holes

Grey squirrels have two homes – winter and summer, and woodpeckers help in the renovation process of the winter dwelling.

December 18, 2014

Large Numbers

As consumers, are we unconsciously influenced by the size of a number?

December 17, 2014

Numerosity

Are we unconsciously influenced by the size of a number?

December 16, 2014

Seeing Red

Some of the selling messages in a department store may be subliminal, including the background colors.

December 15, 2014

Hidden Persuaders

Could colors affect our willingness to purchase a product?

December 12, 2014

Santa Lucia – Waking Up

Serving sweet bread and wearing a crown of candles, young Swedish girls represent Saint Lucia in an early morning ritual.

December 11, 2014

Santa Lucia – History

The ancient legends of Santa Lucia are still embraced by the Swedish culture, with rituals of light in the darkness of winter.

December 10, 2014

Sinterklaas

Change Santa Claus’s team of reindeer into a single white horse, and replace his costume with a bishop’s robes, and you’ll begin to get a picture of the Netherlands’ Sinterklaas.

December 9, 2014

Klausjagen – Celebration

With bells, whips and candles, a Swiss village celebrates St. Nicholas’ Day.

December 8, 2014

Color Marketing

How much does color influence the price we pay for the things we buy?

December 5, 2014

Drosophila -Humanizing Flies

One of the best ways to study cancer in humans is with the common fruit fly.

December 4, 2014

Drosophila – Making History

In the history of genetics, no species has played a more important role than that of a humble fly.

December 3, 2014

Ebola – Unexpected Vector

There may be other ways for a virus to be launched into the air other than by coughing and sneezing.

December 2, 2014

Ebola – Unlikely Airborne

Could the Ebola virus be transmitted through the air?

December 1, 2014

Hemlock – Field Insectories

To combat an invasive insect pest, scientists have imported a predator beetle.