The Physics of Christmas by Roger Highfield

Christmas is a time for giving, meeting friends, and feasting. What are the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey? What are the likely celestial candidates for the Star of Bethlehem? Is the concept of a virgin birth scientifically feasible? What happens to us physically when we overindulge in alcohol? How does snow form? Why are we always depressed after Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten- thousands of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) The Physics of Christmas is that rare science book that manages to be as delightful as it is informative. Christmas is a time for the crunch of snow, spiced wine, and tinseled trees. What are the thermodynamics involved in cooking a turkey? What are the likely celestial candidates for the Star of Bethlehem? Is the concept of a virgin birth scientifically feasible? What happens to us physically when we overindulge in alcohol? How does snow form? Why are we always depressed after Christmas? How does Santa manage to deliver all those presents in one night? (He has, in fact, little over two ten- thousands of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) The Physics of Christmas is that rare science book that manages to be as delightful as it is informative.Why might Rudolph's nose have been red? Why do we actually give Christmas gifts? Why has smell become an important component in the Christmas shopping experience? Roger Highfield, science editor of London's Daily Telegraph and co-author of the highly acclaimed The Arrow of Time, has taken a long-overdue look at our most cherished holiday from the rigorous (but highly entertaining) viewpoint of a scientist.

On the Christmas cards, it all looked so effortless. The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodyna- hardcover, 9780316366113, Highfield Sponsored 3.98 Free shipping The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of 4.49 Free shipping The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the T - VERY GOOD 3. Why might Rudolph's nose have been red? Why do we actually give Christmas gifts? Why has smell become an important component in the Christmas shopping experience? Roger Highfield, science editor of London's Daily Telegraph and co-author of the highly acclaimed The Arrow of Time, has taken a long-overdue look at our most cherished holiday from the rigorous (but highly entertaining) viewpoint of a scientist. Highfield also suggests that Rudolphs red nose is caused by one of 20 parasites that inhabit the respiratory system of reindeer and he even investigates the biology of virgin births. Christmas may be a fun time for most of us.But for Santa its all rather hard work.

The Physics of Christmas by Roger Highfield