Have you planned out your holiday gift giving yet? If you’re anything like me, you might be waiting until the last minute. But whether every single present is already wrapped and ready, or you’ll hit the shops on Christmas Eve, giving gifts is a curious but central part of being human. While researching my new […]
4 min read
Regardless of how you celebrate end-of-year holidays, food is probably central to your winter festivities. And a trio of spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger – feature in many dishes and drinks and are an unmistakable part of the scent profile we associate with the holiday season. As a plant scientist, I was curious to […]
5 min read
Just as the shift to shorter days and colder weather can bring with it mood swings and other emotional challenges, the holiday season can also bring about somewhat predictable changes in mood and behavior. Around this time of year, many of us experience more stress, anxiety and frustration than usual. These stressors have been linked […]
6 min read
With the holiday season just around the corner, families and households will soon be gathering to give and receive gifts. Many will also be sending donations to communities in crisis, and organizing charity events and food drives to help others. The reason for our holiday generosity is obvious to us as adults. We hold a […]
4 min read
Halloween is the spookiest time of the year. However, as you prepare to send shivers down the spines of your friends and family, you may not have given much thought to the environmental footprint that this holiday conceals. In the UK alone, more than 8 million pumpkins are thrown away each year over Halloween. This […]
4 min read
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. How was Halloween invented? – Tillman, age 9, Asheville, North Carolina “It’s alive!” Dr. Frankenstein cried as his creation stirred to life. But the creature had a life of its […]
4 min read