High Touch High Tech

The Physics and Science of Ice Skating: Why Skaters Glide

Ice skating looks graceful and effortless, but beneath every glide, spin, and jump is a fascinating mix of physics, chemistry, and engineering. From Newton’s Laws of Motion to the careful science behind maintaining a skating rink, ice skating is a perfect example of how science comes alive in motion, especially on the Olympic stage.

Newton’s Laws of Motion on Ice

Ice skating is a beautiful demonstration of Newton’s Laws of Motion in action.

Newton’s First Law (Inertia) explains why a skater continues moving once they push off. Because friction on ice is very low, a skater will keep gliding until another force, like friction, air resistance, or a deliberate stop acts on them.

Newton’s Second Law (Force = Mass × Acceleration) comes into play when skaters push harder against the ice to accelerate faster. Stronger pushes create greater acceleration, which is why powerful leg muscles are essential for speed skating and hockey.

Newton’s Third Law (Action–Reaction) is visible every time a skater pushes backward on the ice. The ice pushes forward with equal force, propelling the skater ahead.

Friction: Why Ice Is Slippery (But Not Too Slippery)

Contrary to popular belief, ice skating is not just about “sliding on ice.” The key lies in friction and pressure.

When a skater stands on the ice, the thin metal blade creates extremely high pressure on a very small surface area. This pressure lowers the melting point of ice slightly, forming a microscopic layer of liquid water beneath the blade. This thin water layer acts as a lubricant, reducing friction just enough to allow smooth gliding while still providing enough grip to push, turn, and stop.

Temperature also matters. Ice that is too warm becomes slushy and slow, while ice that is too cold becomes brittle and rough, increasing friction and making skating harder.

Spins, Jumps, and Conservation of Angular Momentum

Figure skaters rely heavily on angular momentum during spins. When skaters pull their arms in, they reduce their moment of inertia, causing them to spin faster. When they extend their arms, they slow down. This same principle explains why Olympic skaters can spin at astonishing speeds with incredible control.

During jumps, skaters convert forward motion into vertical lift by applying force against the ice, carefully timing rotation so they land safely on a thin blade edge just a few millimeters wide.

The Science of Maintaining the Ice

Behind every smooth rink is careful science and engineering.

Ice rinks are built on a network of refrigerated pipes that circulate chilled liquid—often glycol or brine—to keep the ice frozen evenly. Layers of water are added gradually, freezing one thin layer at a time to create a smooth, strong surface.

Ice resurfacers (commonly called Zambonis) shave off rough ice, wash away debris, and apply a thin layer of hot water. The hot water melts imperfections and freezes into a smoother surface than cold water would, creating ideal skating conditions for athletes.

Ice Skating on the Olympic Stage

At the Winter Olympics, physics plays a crucial role in performance and fairness. Ice temperature, blade sharpness, and rink conditions are carefully regulated so athletes can compete safely and consistently.

From the explosive speed of long-track speed skating to the precision of figure skating jumps and spins, Olympic skating showcases how mastering science can elevate human performance. Every medal-winning routine is as much a triumph of physics as it is of athletic skill.

At High Touch High Tech, we believe science is best learned through hands-on exploration just like the science behind ice skating. Our in-school science field trips bring curriculum-based STEM experiences directly to classrooms, helping students see how concepts like force, friction, motion, and energy apply to the real world.

By connecting classroom lessons to exciting examples like Olympic sports, we help students build curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of science without ever leaving their school building.

Citations and Further Reading

1. OpenStax. College Physics: Friction and Newton’s Laws of Motion.
   https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics
2. Persson, B. N. J. (2000). Sliding Friction: Physical Principles and Applications. Springer.
   https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-04283-0
3. University of Illinois Physics. The Physics of Ice Skating.
   https://van.physics.illinois.edu/ask/listing/225
4. Exploratorium. The Science of Ice Skating.
   https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/ice-skating
5. International Olympic Committee. Figure Skating and Speed Skating at the Winter Games.
   https://olympics.com/en/sports/

Strong Bodies, Strong Minds

Taking optimal care of our bodies includes adequate exercise as well as nutritious bioflavonoid abundant foods. Both have been shown to maintain and improve mental health as well as cognitive function.

Strong Bodies, Strong Minds — The Science of Movement, Nutrition & Brain Health

Taking optimal care of our bodies through regular exercise and a nutrient-rich diet doesn’t just improve physical strength, it fundamentally supports mental health and cognitive function as well. Extensive research has shown that regular physical activity enhances brain performance, improving memory, executive function, and processing speed across age groups, even with light-to-moderate intensity exercise. Physical activity boosts blood flow to the brain, increases neurotrophic factors, and reduces inflammation, all of which are linked to better cognition and mood regulation. PMC+1

Likewise, a diet rich in bioflavonoids and polyphenols, found in berries, cocoa, tea, citrus, and other plant foods, has been tied to improvements in memory, processing speed, and global cognitive performance, likely through mechanisms involving neuroplasticity and neuroprotection. PMC+1 Chronic intake of such nutrients has even been associated with higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key molecule involved in neuron growth and mental resilience. PMC

Together, movement and nutrition form a powerful synergy, supporting not only muscles and posture but also emotional well-being, attention, and lifelong brain health. This holistic approach aligns with High Touch High Tech’s philosophy: INSPIRE. EXPLORE. ENGAGE. ™

Through active lifestyles and mindful eating, we empower minds and bodies alike, helping students and adults thrive both on the slopes and in life. MDPI

Citations

Are Memories Really Stored in the Heart?

1. Memory Storage Is a Brain Function

Scientific research overwhelmingly shows that cognitive memory, the ability to encode, store, and retrieve past experiences is a function of the brain, not the heart. Structures like the hippocampus and amygdala play central roles in how memories are formed and shaped, especially emotional memories.

For example:

• The hippocampus is crucial for forming and transferring new memories.
• Emotional experiences influence memory encoding through interactions between the amygdala and memory circuits.

2. The Heart Does Not Store Cognitive Memories

There is no scientific evidence that the human heart stores factual memories (events, people, places, etc.) the way the brain does. Claims that “the heart stores memories” are not supported by established neuroscience. This includes so-called heart transplant memory transfer stories, which are anecdotal and not proven in controlled research.

3. The Heart’s Intrinsic Nervous System

The heart does contain its own intrinsic cardiac nervous system, sometimes called a “little brain in the heart,” made up of tens of thousands of neurons.
But this neural network does not function like the brain’s memory systems. Its role is to help regulate heart rhythms and communicate with the central nervous system — not to store autobiographical memories or learned information.

4. Physiological “Memory” vs. Cognitive Memory

The heart does show what scientists sometimes call physiological memory:

• The electrical system of the heart can exhibit “memory” in how it responds to prior electrical activity (e.g., T-wave changes on an ECG after pacing).
• The heart adapts structurally to chronic demands — such as thickening in response to high blood pressure — which is sometimes described metaphorically as a “memory” of past stress.

This is very different from cognitive memory stored in the brain.

5. Heart–Brain Communication Influences Memory

While the heart does not store memories, it influences memory and cognition through physiological signals to the brain:

• Research shows that heartbeat timing affects how well words are remembered in experiments — memory performance varies depending on when during the cardiac cycle stimuli are presented.
• People with greater awareness of their heartbeats (interoception) show stronger emotional responses and linked memory effects.
  These findings highlight how body states modulate brain processes, not that the heart stores memory itself.

While science tells us that memories are formed in the brain, it also shows us something equally powerful: experiences shape memory best when they are emotional, physical, and engaging. When students touch, experiment, question, and explore, they are activating the very brain systems responsible for long-term learning and curiosity. Science isn’t just something we read about it’s something we experience.

At High Touch High Tech, we believe that meaningful science memories are created through hands-on discovery. That’s why we bring interactive science programs directly into classrooms, transforming the school day into an in-school field trip. Our educators deliver exciting, standards-aligned experiments that spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and help students form lasting connections to science — the kind of memories that stay with them long after the lesson ends.

If you’re ready to give your students a science experience they’ll remember with both their heads and hearts, let High Touch High Tech bring the excitement of real-world science straight to your school. Contact us today to schedule an in-school field trip and turn learning into an unforgettable experience.

Citations

1. Amygdala & hippocampus in emotional memory encoding
   Neuronal activity in both the amygdala and hippocampus enhances memory for emotional experiences — key evidence that memory is a brain function.
   Qasim, S. E. et al. Neuronal activity in the human amygdala and hippocampus enhances emotional memory encoding. Nat. Hum. Behav. (2023).
    https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-022-01502-8 Nature
2. Amygdala and memory interaction with other brain systems
   The amygdala modulates memory storage processes occurring in other regions like the hippocampus, especially for emotionally arousing events.
   McGaugh, J. L. et al. Involvement of the amygdala in memory storage: Interaction with other brain systems. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. (1996).
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC33638/ PMC
3. Review of emotional arousal and memory consolidation
   Stress hormones and amygdala activation influence long-term memory consolidation through interactions with other brain regions.
   Adrenal Stress Hormones and Enhanced Memory for Emotionally Arousing Experiences. NCBI Bookshelf.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK3907/ NCBI
4. Cardiac timing influences memory encoding
   Heartbeat timing and afferent signals from the cardiovascular system can influence how word stimuli are remembered — showing heart–brain interactions in cognition.
   Garfinkel, S. N. et al. What the heart forgets: Cardiac timing influences memory for words. Psychophysiology (2013).
    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4340570/ PMC

 Heart & Brain Communication (No Evidence Heart Stores Cognitive Memory)

• Brain–heart communication
  There are extensive neural and autonomic links between the brain and heart, but this research describes communication, not cognitive memory storage in the heart.
  Brain–heart communication in health and diseases. PubMed.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35217133/ PubMed
• Scientific view on heart transplant memory stories
  Neuroscience does not support the idea that memories are stored in the heart; personality and memory are rooted in the brain, though the heart’s neural network can influence emotion.
  Do Heart Transplant Recipients Inherit Traits of the Donor? Dave Lewis.
   https://davelewis.org/do-heart-transplant-recipients-inherit-traits-of-the-donor/ Dave Lewis

 Optional (Context on Heart’s Intrinsic Nervous System)

• Intrinsic cardiac nervous system (“heart brain”)
  The heart has its own nervous system that interacts with the brain, supporting physiological communication — not cognitive memory.
  Heart–Brain Communication research overview (HeartMath Institute).
   https://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/heart-brain-communication/
• PixLoger (on Pixabay), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
• https://www.scientificanimations.com/, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Plants do not sleep in the way animals do, but they do follow highly regulated biological rhythms that determine when they grow, flower, and produce fruit. These rhythms are governed by environmental signals, especially light exposure and temperature, and are essential for plant survival and reproduction.

Understanding these plant “sleep cycles” helps explain why certain plants bloom only in specific seasons and why fruit trees like apples require winter cold before producing blossoms in spring.

Light as a Biological Clock for Plants

Plants rely on a biological timing system that responds to the daily cycle of light and darkness. This system allows plants to measure day length, anticipate seasonal change, and coordinate key developmental events.

The scientific term for this light-dependent timing mechanism is photoperiodism.

Photoperiodism allows plants to detect how long the night lasts, not just how much light they receive. Specialized pigments, most notably phytochromes, sense changes in light duration and trigger internal signals that regulate flowering and growth.

Photoperiods and Flowering Timing

Plants are commonly grouped into three categories based on how their flowering responds to day length:

 Short-Day Plants

These plants flower when nights are long and uninterrupted. They typically bloom in late summer or fall. Examples include chrysanthemums and poinsettias.

 Long-Day Plants

These plants flower when nights are short, usually in late spring or early summer. Examples include spinach, lettuce, and wheat.

 Day-Neutral Plants

These plants are not sensitive to day length and instead flower based on age or environmental conditions such as temperature. Tomatoes and cucumbers fall into this category.

This light-based timing ensures that flowering and seed production occur during seasons most favorable for pollination and survival.

Darkness Matters More Than Light

One surprising scientific finding is that plants measure the length of darkness, not daylight. Even a brief interruption of darkness, such as exposure to artificial light, can prevent flowering in some photoperiod-sensitive species.

This sensitivity highlights how modern light pollution can influence plant behavior, altering flowering times and potentially disrupting ecosystems.

Cold as a Reset Button: Chilling Requirements

By George Chernilevsky – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71525171

In addition to light, many plants, especially woody perennials, require exposure to cold temperatures before they can resume growth in spring. This process prevents plants from blooming too early during temporary warm spells in winter.

The required exposure to cold is commonly measured in chilling hours.

Chilling Hours and Fruit Trees

Apple trees are a classic example of plants that depend on chilling hours. Most apple varieties require 500–1,500 hours of temperatures between approximately 32°F and 45°F (0–7°C) during winter dormancy.

Without sufficient chilling:

• Buds may open unevenly or not at all
• Flowering may be delayed or reduced
• Fruit production can be poor or absent

Chilling requirements vary by species and cultivar, which is why certain apple varieties thrive in colder climates while others are bred for warmer regions.

Dormancy: A Plant’s Version of Rest

During winter dormancy, plants dramatically slow their metabolic activity. Growth halts, energy is conserved, and tissues become more resistant to cold damage. This dormancy period functions much like a biological “rest phase,” ensuring plants are synchronized with seasonal cycles.

Once chilling requirements are met and day length increases, hormonal changes signal the plant to exit dormancy and begin spring growth.

Why These Cycles Matter

Plant timing systems are essential for:

• Successful reproduction
• Synchronization with pollinators
• Protection from frost damage
• Reliable food production

As global climates change, mismatches between temperature patterns and photoperiod cues may increasingly affect plant health, crop yields, and ecosystem stability.

Conclusion: Plants Keep Time Too

Although plants do not sleep, they are anything but passive. Through sophisticated responses to light and temperature, plants maintain precise biological schedules that govern when they bloom, fruit, and grow. These plant “sleep cycles” are a powerful reminder that life on Earth, plant and animal alike, is deeply connected to the rhythms of our planet.

Understanding these rhythms gives us better tools to grow food, protect ecosystems, and appreciate the remarkable biology happening quietly all around us.

At High Touch High Tech, we love helping students discover that science is happening all around them, even in places they might not expect, like plants quietly responding to light and cold. By exploring concepts such as photoperiods, dormancy, and chilling hours, students gain a deeper understanding of how biology, chemistry, and environmental science intersect. Through our on-site, in-school field trips, we transform classrooms into living laboratories, bringing hands-on experiments and real-world science directly to students.

Citations

Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., Møller, I. M., & Murphy, A. (2015). Plant Physiology and Development. Sinauer Associates. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL25772714M/Plant_Physiology_and_Developmen

• Thomas, B., & Vince-Prue, D. (1997). Photoperiodism in Plants. Academic Press. https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9780080538877_A24385976/preview-9780080538877_A24385976.pdf

• Song, Y. H., Ito, S., & Imaizumi, T. (2013). Flowering time regulation: photoperiod- and temperature-sensing in leaves. Trends in Plant Science, 18(10), 575–583. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23790253/

• Faust, M., Erez, A., Rowland, L. J., Wang, S. Y., & Norman, H. A. (1997). Bud dormancy in perennial fruit trees. Horticultural Reviews, 20, 179–260. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279561014_Bud_Dormancy_in_Perennial_Fruit_Trees_Physiological_Basis_for_Dormancy_Induction_Maintenance_and_Release

• Campoy, J. A., Ruiz, D., & Egea, J. (2011). Dormancy in temperate fruit trees in a global warming context. Scientia Horticulturae, 130(2), 357–372. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304423811003694

• Atkinson, C. J., Brennan, R. M., & Jones, H. G. (2013). Declining chilling and its impact on temperate perennial crops. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 91, 48–62. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0098847213000312
• By George Chernilevsky – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71525171

How Sleep Cycles Have Changed as Society Has Changed

A Scientific Look at Human Sleep Through Time

Sleep is a biological necessity, yet how humans sleep has shifted dramatically as society has evolved. While modern life often frames sleep as an eight-hour nightly obligation, scientific and historical evidence shows that human sleep patterns have been shaped and reshaped by technology, culture, and social structure.

Understanding how sleep has changed offers insight into why modern sleep problems are so common and why they are not simply a matter of personal failure or poor habits.

The Biology of Sleep: A Constant Beneath the Change

At the core of human sleep is the circadian rhythm, an internal biological clock that operates on an approximately 24-hour cycle. This system regulates sleep and wakefulness, hormone secretion (including melatonin), body temperature, and metabolism.

Light is the strongest external signal influencing circadian rhythms. Exposure to light, especially blue-wavelength light, suppresses melatonin and promotes alertness, while darkness allows melatonin levels to rise, signaling the body that it is time to sleep. This biological mechanism has remained consistent throughout human evolution, even as environments and lifestyles have changed.

Sleep Before Industrialization: Aligned With Nature

Light-Driven Sleep Timing

Before widespread artificial lighting, human sleep was closely synchronized with the natural day–night cycle. Sunset marked the beginning of reduced activity, while sunrise prompted waking. Seasonal variations also influenced sleep length, with longer sleep durations commonly reported during winter months.

Segmented Sleep Patterns

Historical documents from Europe and other regions describe a phenomenon known as segmented sleep, in which people slept in two blocks separated by a period of wakefulness around midnight. During this time, individuals might pray, read, reflect, or engage in quiet household tasks.

While this pattern appears frequently in historical records, modern anthropological research suggests sleep patterns varied widely across cultures and environments. Some pre-industrial societies practiced consolidated sleep, while others exhibited seasonal or flexible patterns depending on climate and lifestyle.

Sleep Duration in Traditional Societies

Contrary to popular belief, pre-industrial populations did not necessarily sleep longer than modern humans. Studies using wearable sleep monitors in hunter-gatherer and horticulturalist societies without electricity show average sleep durations ranging from approximately 5.7 to 7.1 hours per night, comparable to many industrialized populations.

The Industrial Revolution: A Major Turning Point

The Industrial Revolution introduced two powerful forces that permanently altered sleep:

Artificial Light

The widespread use of gas and electric lighting extended waking hours well beyond sunset. Evening light exposure delays melatonin release, shifting sleep onset later into the night and altering circadian timing.

Clock-Based Schedules

Factory work, standardized timekeeping, and compulsory schooling imposed fixed wake times, regardless of individual biological preference. Over time, societies transitioned toward monophasic sleep, a single consolidated sleep period, which became the cultural norm in industrialized nations.

This shift represented one of the first large-scale mismatches between biological rhythms and social expectations.

Modern Society: Technology and Circadian Conflict

Screens and Blue Light

Modern LED lighting and digital screens emit blue-rich light that strongly suppresses melatonin. Evening exposure delays sleep onset and reduce sleep pressure, making it harder to fall asleep at socially required bedtimes.

Social Jet Lag

The term social jet lag describes the discrepancy between biological sleep timing and externally imposed schedules. Many individuals sleep later on free days than on workdays, creating a pattern similar to repeated time-zone travel. This misalignment has been associated with increased daytime sleepiness, mood disturbances, and metabolic fluctuations.

Sleep Quantity vs. Sleep Timing

Large international studies show that people in industrialized societies may not sleep less than those in non-industrial settings. However, modern sleep is often more fragmented, more irregular, and more biologically misaligned, largely due to artificial light and social constraints rather than reduced opportunity to sleep.

Recent Social Experiments: What Happens When Schedules Change?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread remote work and flexible schedules provided a natural experiment in sleep behavior. Many people reported sleeping longer and closer to their natural circadian preferences, highlighting how social structure often restricts sleep timing.

This period demonstrated that sleep patterns can shift rapidly when societal constraints are relaxed.

What Science Tells Us Overall

Several key conclusions emerge from sleep research across history and cultures:

• Human sleep biology has remained stable, but sleep expression is highly flexible
• The eight-hour, uninterrupted sleep model is not a universal historical norm
• Artificial light and rigid schedules are primary drivers of modern sleep disruption
• Many sleep problems stem from circadian misalignment, not personal failure

Understanding sleep as a biological process shaped by social forces allows for a more compassionate and evidence-based view of modern sleep challenges.

Conclusion: Learning From Our Sleep History

Sleep has never been a static behavior. From segmented nights by candlelight to late evenings illuminated by screens, human sleep reflects the world we build around ourselves. Modern science suggests that improving sleep may require not just individual behavior changes, but broader awareness of how light, work, and social expectations interact with our biology.

By recognizing how society has shaped sleep, we can better understand how to protect it.

At High Touch High Tech, we believe that science is most powerful when it is experienced, questioned, and explored firsthand. From understanding the biology of sleep to uncovering how our daily lives shape human behavior, we love helping students connect scientific concepts to the world around them. Through our on-site, in-school field trips, we transform classrooms into living laboratories, bringing hands-on experiments, curiosity, and discovery directly to students. By making science engaging and accessible, we aim to inspire the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and lifelong learners.

Come back next week and check out our next blog exploring the “sleep cycles” of plants!

Citations

1. Roenneberg, T., et al. (2012). Social jetlag and obesity. Current Biology, 22(10), 939–943.
2. Yetish, G., et al. (2015). Natural sleep and its seasonal variations in three pre-industrial societies. Current Biology, 25(21), 2862–2868.
3. Ekirch, A. R. (2001). Sleep we have lost: Pre-industrial slumber in the British Isles. American Historical Review, 106(2), 343–386.
4. Wright, K. P., et al. (2013). Entrainment of the human circadian clock to the natural light–dark cycle. Current Biology, 23(16), 1554–1558.
5. Cho, Y., et al. (2015). Effects of artificial light at night on human health. Chronobiology International, 32(9), 1294–1310.
6. Blume, C., Garbazza, C., & Spitschan, M. (2019). Effects of light on human circadian rhythms, sleep and mood. Somnologie, 23, 147–156.
7. Robbins, R., et al. (2021). Sleep duration and timing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep Health, 7(2), 248–251.
8. Street lights in Singapore (8233226620).jpg Flickr images reviewed by File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) Media needing category review as of 15 April 2016 Photographs by Edwin Soo Singapore photographs taken on 2012-11-30
9. Flaming June, by Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896).jpg

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.