Month: December 2015
Pulse of the Planet Daily Audio
Yoiks – Reindeer Jazz
An indigenous style of singing created by nomadic reindeer herdsman is kept alive in contemporary Scandinavia.
December 30, 2015Snapping Turtles – Mercury
In an ecosystem polluted by toxins like mercury, do mother turtles pass these substances on to their young?
December 29, 2015International 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, 2015Quality Control
Is there a better way to improve service without monitoring calls and filling out surveys?
December 25, 2015Christmas – Trees and Mistletoe
Some of our most enduring Christmas traditions may date back to the days before that holiday even existed.
December 24, 2015Christmas Bonfires – Construction
Working together to build 20 foot pyres of wood and wire, a family near New Orleans celebrates Christmas eve.
December 23, 2015Las Posadas
Las Posadas, celebrated in Mexico and in many Hispanic communities, commemorates Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem.
December 22, 2015Christmas – History
Believe it or not, there was a time when the singing of Christmas carols could land you in jail.
December 21, 2015Jonkonnu – Safety Valve
In the early 1800’s, letting off steam at the annual Jonkonnu celebrations may have been a social safety valve.
December 18, 2015Jonkonnu – Reconstructing
A widely celebrated event during the 1800’s inspired historians and local residents of eastern North Carolina to reconstruct its spectacle.
December 17, 2015Jonkonnu – 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, 2015Jonkonnu – Origins
In North Carolina, the festival of Jonkonnu is celebrated with influences from West Africa, England, and the Caribbean.
December 15, 2015Surprise
There’s one sure way to make a memorable impression.
December 14, 2015Simulating 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, 2015Kalas
In Lindsborg, Kansas, folks still mark this time of year with traditions their ancestors brought from Sweden.
December 10, 2015Pallets
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, 2015Sustainable Packaging
Packages that were previouly made out of plastic, are now being made out of bioplastics.
December 8, 2015Snapping Turtles – Nails
Why would anyone want to cut the toenails of a snapping turtle?
December 7, 2015Snapping Turtles – Capturing Clues
Snapping turtles are teaching us invaluable lessons about the effects of toxins on the environment.
December 4, 2015Rain – 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, 2015Rain – Evolution in the Clouds
Why would bacteria evolve the ability to freeze cloud water at higher than normal temperatures?
December 2, 2015SciDi: 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, 2015Wolves and Moose – Antlers
They’re the largest antlered animal in the world and a lot faster that you’d expect them to be.