Month: December 2014
Pulse of the Planet Daily Audio
Mummers Parade – String Bands
Since 1902, the “String Band” of the Mummers Parade has been revered by Mummers and townspeople alike.
December 30, 2014Year End Fire Watch
“Be careful with fire!” is the call heard throughout Tokyo neighborhoods on the last two evenings of the year.
December 29, 2014Wassail
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, 2014Kwanzaa – 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, 2014Kalas
In Lindsborg, Kansas, folks still mark this time of year with traditions their ancestors brought from Sweden.
December 24, 2014Christmas 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, 2014Christmas Bonfires – Tradition
Along the banks of the Mississippi River, a line of Bonfires lights the way for Papa Noel.
December 22, 2014Seasonal 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, 2014Seasonal Science – Holes
Grey squirrels have two homes – winter and summer, and woodpeckers help in the renovation process of the winter dwelling.
December 18, 2014Large Numbers
As consumers, are we unconsciously influenced by the size of a number?
December 17, 2014Numerosity
Are we unconsciously influenced by the size of a number?
December 16, 2014Seeing Red
Some of the selling messages in a department store may be subliminal, including the background colors.
December 15, 2014Hidden Persuaders
Could colors affect our willingness to purchase a product?
December 12, 2014Santa 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, 2014Santa 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, 2014Sinterklaas
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, 2014Klausjagen – Celebration
With bells, whips and candles, a Swiss village celebrates St. Nicholas’ Day.
December 8, 2014Color Marketing
How much does color influence the price we pay for the things we buy?
December 5, 2014Drosophila -Humanizing Flies
One of the best ways to study cancer in humans is with the common fruit fly.
December 4, 2014Drosophila – Making History
In the history of genetics, no species has played a more important role than that of a humble fly.
December 3, 2014Ebola – Unexpected Vector
There may be other ways for a virus to be launched into the air other than by coughing and sneezing.
December 2, 2014Ebola – Unlikely Airborne
Could the Ebola virus be transmitted through the air?
December 1, 2014Hemlock – Field Insectories
To combat an invasive insect pest, scientists have imported a predator beetle.