Christmas Science

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Dec 1, 2003

It's December. It's Christmas. It's Christmas Science!

One event that has interested scientists down through the ages is the Star of Bethlehem. Is there a scientific explanation for what the Magi saw? What was the Star of Bethlehem? is an animation illustrating one theory. Was the Star of Bethlehem actually the close approach or conjunction of the planets Venus and Jupiter with the star Regulus? This is an interesting and enjoyable web site that provides a glimpse of the sky in the past. But, not to be outdone, today's sky can also put on a show of Christmas celestial events.

According to the Bible, the three Wise Men presented the baby Jesus with gold, frankincense and myrrh. What are frankincense and myrrh? Both are aromatic gum resins. Frankincense is the resin produced by trees in the genus Boswellia, which grow in Africa and southern Arabia. In olden times it was prized for its medicinal properties but is primarily used in the production of incense now. Myrrh is a resin from the Commiphora trees that grow in Africa, Arabia, Madagascar and India. Myrrh is still used as a medicine today.

What does chemistry have to do with Christmas? Chemistry can help solve the Christmas Cookie Mystery. Which mixture is Mrs. Claus' Special Sugar Cookie? Santa can not leave Christmas Eve without a supply of cookies for the long night ahead. For a hint, read the directions first. In addition, chromatography can be used to make neat Christmas lights decorations. (Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view these web pages. It is a free download).

Now, how can Santa visit all those homes in just one night? He must be able to travel at the speed of light. But, travelling at the speed of light means that one may not be able to see Santa in the sky as he streaks by. Or Rudolph's nose may not be red but a different colour (due to the Doppler shift) depending on Santa's speed. And what does the world look like if one is roaring along at the speed of light? The site Special Relativity (heavy on the physics) investigates this question. The gallery hosts animations illustrating what various objects (such as the Eiffel Tower) would look like as one flies by at the speed of light. And don't worry. NASA is already looking into how Santa will manage an Interplanetary Christmas.

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