Starting off the New Year with a Winter Oreo Snowman... and a one created with Fungus.

(...although thankfully not necessarily in the same packaging)

Once again companies are rolling out the snowman for the holidays. As the season goes on, we'll be posting more of these... but to start off, meet the Nabisco Snowman who is selling Winter Oreos.

photo by Tamar Stone 2012

It's interesting to note that Nabisco thought it was important to reassure the consumer that although there is red [holiday] creme in the cookie, is still has the "Same Great Taste!" (of the plain - usual - white creme?)

Onto other scientific endeavors starring the snowman, our friend DH sent us a link for this amazing Fungal Snowman from the J. Craig Venter Institute.
Image Credit: Stephanie Mounaud  

Fungal snowman. Hat, Eyes, Mouth, Buttons: Aspergillus niger;

Arms: Aspergillus nidulans;

Nose: Aspergillus terreus with Penicillium marneffei;

Body: Neosartorya fischeri. 

photo by http://blogs.jcvi.org/2010/12/holiday-art/

And in the words of those creative folks - "Let us all show the world the true side of fungus and all its amazing potential. Because we all know they can do more than just sit there and look pretty."

You can check out more holiday fungal inspired artwork by the
creative scientists at the J. Craig Venter Insititute at their website

http://blogs.jcvi.org/2010/12/holiday-art/