December 31, 2015

Yoiks – Reindeer Jazz

An indigenous style of singing created by nomadic reindeer herdsman is kept alive in contemporary Scandinavia.

December 30, 2015

Snapping Turtles – Mercury

In an ecosystem polluted by toxins like mercury, do mother turtles pass these substances on to their young?

December 29, 2015

International Surprise

Human beings are apparently hardwired to remember things that surprise us. how does this translate to cultures where people typically aren’t encouraged to deviate from the normal way of doing things?

December 28, 2015

Quality Control

Is there a better way to improve service without monitoring calls and filling out surveys?

December 25, 2015

Christmas – Trees and Mistletoe

Some of our most enduring Christmas traditions may date back to the days before that holiday even existed.

December 24, 2015

Christmas Bonfires – Construction

Working together to build 20 foot pyres of wood and wire, a family near New Orleans celebrates Christmas eve.

December 23, 2015

Las Posadas

Las Posadas, celebrated in Mexico and in many Hispanic communities, commemorates Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem.

December 22, 2015

Christmas – History

Believe it or not, there was a time when the singing of Christmas carols could land you in jail.

December 21, 2015

Jonkonnu – Safety Valve

In the early 1800’s, letting off steam at the annual Jonkonnu celebrations may have been a social safety valve.

December 18, 2015

Jonkonnu – Reconstructing

A widely celebrated event during the 1800’s inspired historians and local residents of eastern North Carolina to reconstruct its spectacle.

December 17, 2015

Jonkonnu – Kome

Revelers of the Jonkonnu masquerade sing and dance through neighborhoods, visiting homes where their pageantry might be favored with a gift of money.

December 16, 2015

Jonkonnu – Origins

In North Carolina, the festival of Jonkonnu is celebrated with influences from West Africa, England, and the Caribbean.

December 15, 2015

Surprise

There’s one sure way to make a memorable impression.

December 14, 2015

Simulating Trucks Trains and Planes

If you want to design effective packaging, you’d better know how it will stand up to being transported in planes, trains and trucks.

December 11, 2015

Kalas

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

December 10, 2015

Pallets

In the world of package design, you have to think not only of the package itself, but what it’s going to be resting upon.

December 9, 2015

Sustainable Packaging

Packages that were previouly made out of plastic, are now being made out of bioplastics.

December 8, 2015

Snapping Turtles – Nails

Why would anyone want to cut the toenails of a snapping turtle?

December 7, 2015

Snapping Turtles – Capturing Clues

Snapping turtles are teaching us invaluable lessons about the effects of toxins on the environment.

December 4, 2015

Rain – What’s in a Raindrop

Microorganisms are part of the “recipe” for making rain, and rain not only cleans the atmosphere of microbes and airborne particles, it serves as a prime mover in stimulating microbial growth.

December 3, 2015

Rain – Evolution in the Clouds

Why would bacteria evolve the ability to freeze cloud water at higher than normal temperatures?

December 2, 2015

SciDi: Flavor – All in the Taste

Most scientists refrain from eating anything in their labs, and for good reason. But when it comes to flavor science, tasting chemicals is madatory.

December 1, 2015

Wolves and Moose – Antlers

They’re the largest antlered animal in the world and a lot faster that you’d expect them to be.