Can Reindeer Fly?: The Science of Christmas

by RogerHighfield (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  1998

  $4.49

• Used

  Paperback
  1999

  $3.51

  A lighted-hearted scientific investigation into all the rituals and icons of Christmas. 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-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) This paperback edition has been updated and contains a new chapter on the latest seasonal science - Santa Teleporting. Chapters range from The decline and fall of virgin births to Christmas astrology , and Santa: the hallucinogenic connection to The dreaded sprout .

• Used

  Hardcover
  2001

  $3.26

  This book offers a lighted-hearted scientific look at the rituals and icons of Christmas. 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-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit). This new edition has been extensively updated and contains a new chapter on the latest seasonal science - how religion can help your mental life!

• New

  Paperback
  2002

  $12.32

  An irresistible stocking-filler: a hilarious romp through the science of Christmas. 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-thousandths of a second to get between each of the 842 million households he must visit.) This book contains information on how drugs might make us see flying reindeer, how pollution is affecting the shape of Christmas trees and the intriguing correlation between the length of our Christmas card list and brain size.