High Touch High Tech

The Winter Solstice: The Science Behind the Shortest Day

Each year in late December, we experience a turning point in Earth’s journey around the Sun: the winter solstice. Often described as the “shortest day of the year,” the winter solstice marks a precise astronomical moment.

What Is the Winter Solstice?

The winter solstice occurs when Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted as far away from the Sun as possible. At this moment, the Sun follows its lowest and shortest path across the sky, resulting in the fewest daylight hours of the entire year.

This isn’t caused by Earth being farther from the Sun, Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January. Instead, the solstice happens because Earth is tilted about 23.5 degrees on its axis. That tilt controls how much sunlight each hemisphere receives throughout the year.

Why Is It the Shortest Day?

On the winter solstice:

• The Sun rises at its southernmost point on the horizon
• Solar noon is lower in the sky
• Sunlight strikes the Northern Hemisphere at a more indirect angle

All of this reduces both the duration and intensity of sunlight we receive. In much of the continental United States, daylight lasts only about 9–10 hours on the solstice.

When Do We Start Gaining Daylight?

Here’s the hopeful part: the return of the light begins immediately after the winter solstice.

• In the days following the solstice, daylight increases by about 1–2 minutes per day
• By late January, the daily increase can approach 2–3 minutes per day
• The rate continues to increase until around the spring equinox

Interestingly, the latest sunrise doesn’t occur exactly on the solstice, it happens a few days later. This is due to the way Earth’s elliptical orbit and axial tilt interact, a phenomenon known as the equation of time.

How Long Until the Summer Solstice?

From the winter solstice in late December, there are approximately 182 days until the summer solstice, which occurs around June 20–21.

That long arc from shortest day to longest day represents Earth slowly tipping the Northern Hemisphere back toward the Sun—bringing longer days, higher sun angles, and eventually summer warmth.

A Brief History of Solstice Celebrations

Long before modern astronomy, people noticed the solstice’s significance.

• Ancient stone structures like Stonehenge align with solstice sunrises and sunsets
• Roman celebrations such as Saturnalia honored the return of longer days
• Norse cultures observed Yule, a festival centered on light, renewal, and survival

While the traditions varied, the shared theme was universal: the Sun’s return meant hope, food, and life.

High Touch High Tech offers programs demonstrating the Earth’s tilt, solar eclipses, and lunar eclipses through hand-on experiments. We will bring the laboratory to your school! Go to sciencemadefun.io to check for a location near you!

Citations

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Earth’s seasons and axial tilt.
• National Weather Service. Winter solstice and daylight changes.
• Time and Date AS. Daylight length and solstice timing.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. Historical solstice observances.
• Royal Museums Greenwich. Solstices and equinoxes explained.

On September 11, 2025 I attended a faculty introduction to the Biology Department at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Six Doctors of Biology introduced themselves and spoke briefly about their work. After each summary of the classes they teach and the research they are currently focused on, they each sat at a table of three to five students to answer questions and discuss their research further. They had conversations with each table of students.

Dr. Melinda Grosser was the director of the event as well as offering an overview of her own roles as professor and the research she is currently working on. She is doing extensive research on Staphylococcus Aureus because of its resistance to antibiotics. Her lab is using a control and comparing that to any mutations that may occur in their samples. She hopes to be able to design a knockdown strain. They are hoping to silence the antibiotic-resistant genes.

Dr Courtney Clark-Hachtel spoke about her study of Tardigrades and their remarkable resilience. She focuses on a particular species, Hypsibius exemplaris. Tardigrades are resilient in many ways, the most common is ability to desiccate or dry themselves out in times of drought stress. However, Dr. Clark-Hachtel is specifically focused on their ability to repair DNA after radiation exposure. Her lab is experimenting with observing how the DNA providing this ability reacts in other systems.

Dr Ted Meigs worked for the department of cancer research and pharmacology from 1996-2003. He has been a professor at UNCA for 23 years. He is currently researching how cells function and how molecules interact with cells. He has continued his research on cancer at UNCA. His lab is currently focused on the proteins involved in switched DNA that contribute to cell mutation on or off.

Dr Jonathan Horton has been a biology professor at UNCA for over 20 years. His focus is on forest mycology and ecology. His lab recently evaluated the vast amount of fallen trees due to hurricane Helene last September and their relation to possible changes in mycorrhiza. He has created a fungarium, a collection of dried fungus specimens. His collection exceeds 450 and he is working on getting a DNA bar code for each.

Dr. Camila Filgueiras teaches entomology along with other courses at UNCA. Her research focuses on how insects interact with their environment. She aims to understand the relationship of insects, plants, and microbes. One of her specific studies are on the American Chestnut and chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica. Her lab also examines all pathogens affecting the majestic trees.

Dr Rebecca Hale is the director of undergraduate research. Her current research focuses on animal behavior where ecology and evolution overlap. Specifically, she is studying the parental behavior of salamanders. Not all species of salamanders have the same parental behavior. These behaviors include maternal care, paternal care and no care. One of the main species she studies is the Marble Salamander, Ambystoma opacum. The parental behavior of the Marble Salamander is that some mothers stay with her eggs and curve their body around the eggs to hold any moisture in contact with the eggs. This begins the hatching process. They do not stay for the hatching of the eggs.

Every professor had a chance to have a short chat with each student. They were all excited about their research and very engaging. They answered questions from the students and asked many questions of their own. When a student exhibited a focused interest on a particular branch of biology each professor offered to extend a conversation on the subject beyond the seminar. Many of the professors share their research with each other, for biological systems overlap.

We often view art and science as distinct disciplines; however, they are deeply intertwined. Integrating art with science has numerous benefits. First and foremost, art can make science concepts more interesting and engaging. At its core, science was born out of curiosity and an innate human drive to understand the world around us. Art enhances our creativity, communication skills, and problem-solving. Those benefits are drivers of curiosity, which perpetuate the drive for scientific exploration. These disciplines are really two sides of the same coin.

The powers of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education start with our youngest learners. It can not only set foundations for lifelong learning, but also a love for learning. We never stop learning. Even our oldest learners personally benefit from pursuing STEAM education. Fostering creativity improves their quality of life, amongst many other benefits. Here at High Touch High Tech, we have programs that are specifically designed to integrate art and science for preschoolers, elementary students, and seniors alike.

So, why is creativity so indispensable to science? Science is inherently contestable. Therefore, scientific knowledge will always be ad interim. That is how we continue to grow in our knowledge. It may seem counterintuitive that good scientists try to prove themselves wrong rather than right. That can be uncomfortable for us. We desire clarity and reassurance in our understanding of the world, but it is this uncertainty that makes creativity so important. Scientists must look critically at their data. We use creativity to develop alternative explanations, and this is central to innovation.

We face challenges, both known and unknown. How we discover new possibilities and find solutions to our challenges can come about through upheavals in our historic ways of thinking. By integrating art with science, we reinforce the integral role of creativity with learning and better equip the students of today to become tomorrow’s innovators.

High Touch High Tech exists to help you bring art and science to your students; we are Science Made Fun! All of our programs deliver fun and engaging STEAM activities to students. Find a franchise location near you!

World Economic Forum – https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/07/creativity-science-matters-ways-to-achieve-it/

High Touch High Tech would like to celebrate the importance of trees! Trees have many functions. One major one is that they provide habitat for 80 % of terrestrial biodiversity! Champion trees are determined by factors such as height and diameter and the champion titles are awarded to many species of tree. To learn all about this you could check out the website: https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-registry/?gclid=CjwKCAjwvfmoBhAwEiwAG2tqzCeucx870G8EmSA-OXPJOLXOSoRzVrLmS1n3rXgp5edKTnyUEIQMkRoCCfQQAvD_BwE. 

Today’s Champion tree is in Monroe County Florida. It is the Wild Banyantree or Ficus citrifolia. The trunk circumference on this Wild Banyontree is 244 inches and it reaches a height of 42 feet! The crown spread is 83 feet! 

Have you ever discovered a bag of cornmeal or a box of cereal that was shoved to the back of the pantry for long enough to forget, looked inside, and found it crawling with some sort of worm or beetle?  Chances are this is the mealworm or darkling beetle. They are commonly found around any grain storage areas due to the larvae’s insatiable desire for vegetative remains and delicious grains. Good news though: if food is what you were after when you discovered them, they can be eaten too!

Let’s start from the beginning. The oldest known record of mealworms was found in archeological digs exploring bronze age Turkey.  This means mealworms have been munching on our cereal for thousands of years!  Though they originated in the Mediterranean region, due to colonization and trade, they can now be found just about anywhere on earth.

The lifecycle of this insect begins as an egg that is about 0.05 mm and oval shaped. After about 4-19 days, depending on temperature consistency, the eggs hatch.  They prefer a temperature from 77-81 degrees. The female beetle lays about 70-100 eggs at a time. The newly emerged larvae are light orange or whitish and are about 3mm long; tiny! The baby larvae feed on vegetation and dead insects. They eat almost constantly and molt between each stage or instar. They go through about 9-20 instars through the duration of about 90-114 days. After the final molt when the larvae have reached the grand size of one inch it enters a pupate stage. The larvae will undergo a drastic change of physical features and attributes. The pupa is whitish and color and grow for about 3-30 days, once again depending upon temperature, they emerge as an adult darkling beetle!

The habitat of a darkling beetle in nature is dead grasses, leaf litter, decomposed organic matter, under old logs, and any other form of decomposing vegetation. Most often though they can be found near animal enclosures and food storage site including your pantry at times.

Uses for mealworm larvae include food for poultry, livestock, pigs, fish, reptile, pet birds, fish bait, and humans! They are packed with nutrients with every 100 grams of larvae raw having 206 calories and 14-25 grams of protein as well as potassium, copper, sodium, selenium, iron, and zinc. Compared to beef, mealworms are much more sustainable and occupy a much smaller amount of space. In May of 2017 Switzerland approved mealworms as a food and in 2021 they were approved by the European Union. Here in the U. S., there isn’t a specific regulation, and they can sometimes be found in novelty shops, or perhaps on sustainable homesteads if you search.

                For commercial or mass production, the space and energy required to raise mealworms is very little compared to livestock farms. You can raise them on oats, wheat, sliced potatoes, carrots, apples and just about any organic vegetative material.

Mealworms can also be used to recycle polystyrene! They can consume polystyrene at a rate of 34-39 mg per day. Specifically, the microorganism inside their gut is responsible for this action. They of course don’t prefer polystyrene and overall, it isn’t good for their long-term health, however it is possible and could be a source of recycling in the future

The possibilities of mealworm use may bring us closer to sustainability as we change towards mindsets and habits conducive to the preservation of the earth. You could easily set up your own mealworm operation to aid in supplementing your backyard chickens or ducks. All you need is a few plastic bins and a few mealworms and some grain to start the process. Even their “waste,” known as frass, can be used as a fertilizer. As we examine possibilities for a more sustainable the future, one thing is for sure:  mealworms can teach us so much about ecological cycles. Incorporating these models in our lives as we approach sustainability is key.

For more on mealworms and decomposers check out our podcast! https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/LXdEenw2pub

For more on mealworms visit : https://study.com/academy/lesson/mealworms-lesson-for-kids-facts-life-cycle.html

Shan M Ritch

Why do we want cookies or cake after a Meal? Is there something physiological that makes that happen? Max Planke, from the Florida Institute for Neuroscience, decided to find out. It was already known that there is a group of nerve cells, called the POMC neurons, that make us feel full after a meal. But what Planke discovered was that these same nerve cells are responsible for sugar cravings. After eating the sugar treat there is a release of opiate endorphins giving a satisfying feeling. When studying this process in mice it was discovered that the endorphin release happens just by anticipating the sugary treat! Scientists think understanding this process could help with obesity.

So, this explains what and why for dessert cravings but is there science in the dessert itself? Of course, there is because cooking is chemistry! Let’s bite into this by analyzing chocolate cake. To create the perfect moist soft chocolate cake the protein gluten in flour must be processed perfectly. When mixed with water the gluten is activating creating a web like structure that traps air bubbles. If you look at cake with a magnifying glass, you can see the results of those bubbles. When sugar and chocolate are added the sugar caramelizes adding flavor and texture. Then when butter or oil is added it inhibits the gluten formation. Once again, the amount of each ingredient is crucial to get the desired flavor and texture.

Between the ages of 2-4 children ask why repetitively. This is because the world around them has come into focus and they want to understand All Of It! That curiosity can be nourished by presence and wonder all through our lives. So, when you have a craving for that perfect chocolate cake after a wonderful meal, we know it’s because of the neurons in our stomachs and if you are curious why a chocolate cake from your grandma tastes best it is because she has repeated a recipe that is tried and true!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213143309.htm

https://maxplanckneuroscience.org/institute/mpfi-neuroscience/

https://cwcpediatrics.com/2025/07/21/why-is-my-child-asking-so-many-questions-understanding-the-why-phase/

 Indigenous Americans have contributed in the field of science in numerous ways. Here are just a few of the many indigenous scientists to highlight.

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte (June 1865-Sep.1915) was one of the first indigenous people and first indigenous woman to earn a medical degree! She worked diligently on public health reforms such as school hygiene, food sanitation, and combat tuberculosis.

Dr. K. Tsianina Lomamawaima was born in 1955. She researched indigenous studies, anthropology, history, and political science. She is currently a professor at Arizona State University! She wrote the book They Called it Prairie Light: The Story of Chilocco Indian School in 1994.

Dr, Leroy Little Bear went to the University of Utah in 1975. He up until 1977 was a researcher at the University of Lethbridge where he is the founding member of the Native American Studies Department. He has received awards such as the Officer Order of Canada and the Alberta Order of Excellence.

John Herrington, born 1958, served in the U. S, Navy and also was a mission specialist at NASA on the Endeavor space shuttle! He also did work in the Aquarius underwater laboratory simulating survival during extreme conditions.

Mary Golda Ross Aug 1908-April 2008) was an Aerospace Engineer who helped design planes and spacecraft. She was from the Cherokee Nation. She was a founding member of the Society of Women Engineers.

Feel free to follow any of the links below to learn more!

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/blog/native-american-scientists-engineers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._Tsianina_Lomawaima

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Herrington

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leroy_Little_Bear

What is STEAM?
STEAM stands for:
• Science – Understanding natural phenomena and scientific principles.
• Technology – Utilizing tools and resources to solve problems.
• Engineering – Applying design and construction principles to create solutions.
• Arts – Incorporating creativity and design thinking into projects.
• Mathematics – Using quantitative reasoning and analytical skills.

Let’s dive into how each part of STEAM plays a role in the world with one powerful image: The STEAM engine!
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Imagine a steam train chugging along the tracks. It’s powered by hot steam produced in a boiler, where water is heated by coal, wood, or natural gas. The pressure created in the boiler moves the pistons, which in turn gets the wheels turning.
Now let’s look at how each component of STEAM is at work in the steam engine:

The steam engine demonstrates the understanding of physical and chemical reactions (e.g., heating water to create steam).

Science is the systematic study of natural phenomena through:
• Observation – using senses to understand a subject
• Questioning – asking “why” and “how”
•Hypothesis – making predictions based on prior knowledge
•Experimentation – testing predictions through trials
•Analysis – drawing conclusions from data

Do scientists always stop at conclusions? Of course not! Repeatable experiments lead to more questions and deeper understanding.
Technology
From Hero of Alexandria’s early steam devices to modern trains, technology evolves over time. Like bricks building a taller house, each innovation builds on the last.

Technology isn’t just about computers. It’s the application of knowledge to solve real-world problems in every field, including:
• Agriculture
• Medicine
• Transportation

Engineering
The steam engine itself is an amazing example of mechanical engineering. The field of engineering applies scientific knowledge to design, build, and maintain systems.
Engineering has many branches, including:
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering

Through collaboration and education, engineers refine and improve existing designs, pushing innovation forward.

Art
Art may not seem like an obvious player in the evolution of the steam engine—but it’s absolutely essential!
Art brings imagination to reality. Before anything is built, it’s imagined—drawn, modeled, or sculpted. Scientific illustrations have helped us understand:
• Microorganisms
• Plant structures (botany)
• Insects (entomology)

Art has also:
• Depicted future technology before it existed (Star Trek!)
• Influenced the aesthetics and design of functional machines
A drawing of an early steam engine could have been the first step in making it real.

Mathematics
Math is often called the language of science. It can be:
• Utilitarian – for everyday functions like budgeting or measuring
• Theoretical – existing purely in the abstract, yet influencing real-world inventions
Much like art, theoretical math often becomes practical. Inventions like the steam engine required:
• Calculations of pressure
• Mechanical measurements
• Geometry in design
________________________________________
Conclusion: STEAM Powers Progress!

STEAM is more than just an acronym. It’s a framework for innovation, problem-solving, and creativity.
Whether it’s a train moving across the tracks, a new invention, or a scientific discovery, each discipline works together to fuel progress. The steam engine is just one powerful example of how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math come together to shape the world.

I suspect that almost everyone has a story of an amazing teacher who took the time to give them the extra support they needed in their life. Perhaps they still know that teacher today. Here are a few amazing teachers from around the world!

Maggie MacDonnell teaches in an Inuit community in Salluit. Salluit is a northern community in Quebec Canada. The area she works in has a high suicide rate, so she strives to bring hope to the community. She incorporates a project based on art and therapeutic methods. One project is called Student feeding Students where a group of students create a healthy snack for all the other students. Getting the students involved in the community helps with connection and gives a sense of purpose. A fellow teacher, Ian Cambell, said,” She is really an expert at having a more open learning environment.”
Another project MacDonnell is involved in is The Runners project where students have somewhat of a running club. She says, “When you run by yourself you go fast! When you run with others can go far.” She also says the students she works with are the true northern lights.

Michael Wamaya from Kibera Kenya is a ballet teacher. Micheal had to drop out of school when he was young due to financial hardship. However, he had a chance audition with a visiting Kenya Performance group that set him on a path to live in Nairobi and learn dance! He now teaches ballet to children and he’s very good at it. One community member said, “If you take your kids to Mike there is some future in that kid.” One parent has noticed how her daughter is more focused and organized since being in Mike’s class.
Mike believes ballet helps the children get their voice due to the confidence acquired through ballet training. Leonard Wawire, headmaster at valley View Academy, says that Mike has helped make education available to everyone in the area!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAufiNM3Aus

Salima Begum is from Pakistan. She received an education from a two-room private school with very little resources. That did not impede her love of learning!
Salima says,” Education is abroad concept that teaches a child humility, harmony, and love for others.”
Before Salima girls could not complete their education due to cultural roadblocks. Salima met with the community to create a solution for a way for girls to continue their education.
One problem in the community was the accumulation of garbage and debris in the streets. By working with the students and allowing them to come up with creative solutions they began creating compost and then fertilizer from the waste.
The classes are activity based. One student says, “’ Ma’ams classes are always fun and interesting, never boring, time flies by” Another says,” My parents brought me into the world, but my teacher has lifted me up and made me reach for the skies”

Tracy-Ann Hall is from Spanish Town Jamaica. She teaches automotive technology at Jonathan Grande High School. Most students are from the low-income bracket. Once they leave high school most students go directly to work. Once they have taken the automotive technology course they will be prepared to work for an established automotive business or begin one of their own. Hall acknowledges that there are students with different learning styles. She incorporates music in the class as well as field trips
She has lunchtime instructions where they catch up on current affairs. She tries to prepare them with skills that will get them ahead in life.
Daphne Clayton, the Chair of Governors, says “Here is a woman in a man’s world but
knows exactly what she was doing!”

Marie-Christine Ghanbari Jahromi majored in mathematics and sports at the University of Munster. She received the Future leader award at Africa’s Go FPEP in 2014. She operates a collaborative sports project helping students build self-esteem. She teaches students that keeping fit strengthens bodies and minds.
She works with refugee children in groups with the German students helping them learn different cultures and helps the refugee children integrate more easily into German society. This also makes it easier for them to learn faster.

Boya Yang is in Cumming China with a background in teaching as well as psychology.
Both parents were teachers. She uses a technique where she incorporates games so that students will find it easier to participate. She also makes sure to give time to each student individually. She feels in general that China’s education system focusses too much on exams. She hopes to work with other teachers to explore the psychological aspect of learning. She incorporates art drama and music. If the kids seem interested in something she sees that as an opportunity to incorporate learning alongside that interest. She even incorporates parents in the learning process. They too have been learning a lot!
Yang says she loves having the freedom to be innovative in her job!

There are many qualities that make a great teacher and from the examples here observation an innovation as well as focusing on each students learning style and needs plays a large part in being a successful and admired teacher. One exceptional teacher I remember is a Western Civilizations teacher in community college who was also head of the drama department. His classes were like one man shows where he acted out the history lesson with a powerful stage presence. It’s hard not to learn history when it is dramatized right before you!

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/these-10-inspirational-teachers-are-transforming-e/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDpF5cFmpvU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADA7CeUjKTE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADA7CeUjKTE