How does thanksgiving relate to science?

How does chemistry relate to Thanksgiving?

A simple chemical interaction makes this process work: When you place a turkey in a solution of sodium chloride (salt) and H2O (water), the chemical processes of diffusion and osmosis take place—meaning that both the salt and the water move from an area of greater concentration (the brine) to an area of lesser …

How does Thanksgiving effect the environment?

According to research done by Carnegie Mellon University, the carbon footprint of a 16-pound turkey creates a total of 34.2 pounds of CO2 — the same amount produced by turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, rolled biscuits and apple pie combined.

How can we make Thanksgiving more sustainable?

5 Tips for sustainable Thanksgiving shopping
  1. Buy local and organic when possible. The closer your food is grown, the lower the environmental impact of what you eat. …
  2. Skip the produce bags. …
  3. Buy in bulk. …
  4. Stick to your shopping list. …
  5. Buy bigger portions and refill packs.

Why do we eat on Thanksgiving?

Since Bradford wrote of how the colonists had hunted wild turkeys during the autumn of 1621 and since turkey is a uniquely North American (and scrumptious) bird, it gained traction as the Thanksgiving meal of choice for Americans after Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.

Is cooking a turkey a physical or chemical change?

Physical change:

Change in color from white to brown. After baking the turkey, its shape got bigger.

What is an example of a chemical reaction that happens when you make food for Christmas?

And when baking soda, or what chemists refer to as pure sodium bicarbonate, is combined with lactose (milk), the resulting chemical reaction produces bubbles of carbon dioxide that expand under oven temperatures, causing bread and other baked goods to rise.

What are economic impacts of Thanksgiving?

The stock market can be affected by having extra days off for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The markets tend to see increased trading activity and higher returns the day before a holiday or a long weekend, a phenomenon known as the holiday effect or the weekend effect.

Is eating turkey bad for the environment?

Turkey: 10.9 kg CO2

Thanksgiving may not be the greenest holiday, though it’s probably better than a Christmas roast. Most of the greenhouse gases from turkey come from feed production (especially corn), followed by processing and home cooking.

Is turkey better for the environment?

#1 Turkey and Chicken


These birds do not produce methane and need less food and water than sheep and cows. If you want to minimise your carbon footprint without giving up meat, chicken is your best option.

Why does turkey make you sleepy?

First things first: Yes, turkey does contain tryptophan, which does promote good sleep and a good mood, according to research published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews . Tryptophan is one of several essential amino acids, which are considered the building blocks of proteins in animals and plants.

Who invented Thanksgiving?

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states.

Can turkeys fly?

Wild turkeys can fly short distances at 40 to 50 miles an hour. … Wild turkeys are able to fly short distances at considerable speed. They can also run and swim.