I’ve never had any trouble believing in Santa but for the Scrooges out there Larry Silverberg, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University, has conducted some research to further explain Santa’s magic. His Christmas-spirit-lacking conclusion? Advanced nanotechnology and an exploitation of the time space continuum help to explain some of Santa’s powers.
Silverberg says that Santa is exploiting the time space continuum when he makes his Christmas Eve voyage around the world. A Christmas Eve voyage that actually lasts SIX Santa months. Pardonnez moi?
“He understands that space stretches, he understands that you can stretch time, compress space and therefore he can, in a sense, actually have six Santa months to deliver the presents,” Silverberg told Reuters.
“In our reference frame it appears as though he does it in the wink of an eye and in fact there have been sightings of Santa, quick sightings, and that’s in our reference frame, but in Santa’s reference frame he really has six months”.
I suppose that makes it a little easier to believe (that is, if you didn’t already) that Santa can visit 200 million homes in just one night. Silverberg said his research also indicates that Santa doesn’t carry all of the toys in his sleigh. Instead, he grows the presents under the tree using nanotechnology or, more specifically, he turns irreversible therm0-dynamic properties into reversible ones to turn soot, candy and other natural materials into the presents. Maybe that’s why we’re supposed to leave cookies for Santa. Not because he’s so hungry (although now that we know it actually takes him six months the cookies make a little more sense) but because he uses them to grow our presents!
Some of Silverberg’s other research on Santa indicates that to determine whose naughty or nice, Santa uses giant antennas; the sleigh also has a GPS system of sorts and the reindeer are “genetically bred to fly, balance on rooftops and see in the dark.”
I still think Santa’s sleigh is fueled by Christmas Spirit and my biggest question remains, how does Santa eat all of those cookies and still fit through the chimneys? Also, where does he vacation after Christmas? I’d like to go there and buy him a drink.
If you’re still not convinced (you lousy non-believer, you) check out this picture from Iwasabducted.com (a truly reliable source if ever there was one) of an unidentified flying object that looks eerily similar to Santa’s sleigh.
Honestly, do you need more proof than that?
[Posted by Madeline]
six words to change the world. 
I still have one question though: Why doesn’t Santa bring gifts to the poor and the homeless?? Don’t believe me, next time you see a homeless child ask him if Santa brought him anything for Xmas. I know it is a crude reality but Santa is a capitalist and an elitist.
Excellent question, Carlos. I actually volunteer for an organization that makes sure Santa visits the under-privileged in my little corner of the world. I don’t know that Silverberg has done any research on this but I have a feeling that if he did he would find that we can all do a little more to help Santa out in this particular area.
The Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” (http://www.toysfortots.org/) is a good place to start. I believe they are in direct contact with the North Pole on a daily basis. Or, call your local post office and ask them if they participate in “Letters to Santa” and if so, volunteer to be an elf.
You are so totally awesome!!
This is a great article. I personally stopped Believing in Santa a long time ago, but recently my twelve year old son has not yet given up on santa and has done all sorts of research on the subject. Between your article and my son’s Determination, I think I have started to believe again!