We all know Rudolf is meant to have a red nose, but now it's been proven why thanks to the technology behind thermal cameras.
Researchers in Sweden have been studying herds of reindeer to find exactly how heat is distributed amongst the body of the animals. To do this they used a thermal imaging camera, which can be used to determine the heat given off (the emissivity) of an object by turning infrared radiation into an image.
Their studies found that the reindeer's bodies are well insulated by their fur, which is necessary for the reindeer's survival in the snowy climates they're often found in. When studying the image taken with a thermal camera they also found that the noses of the deer actually glow red/orange; this is because a reindeer's nose releases a large amount of heat.
So not only does Rudolf have a red nose, but the rest of the reindeer secretly also have them as well! This is due to a high level of blood vessels present in the noses/lips of the deer, helping them keep warm and sensitive when rummaging through the snow as they search for food.
Professor Ronald Korger, a zoologist from Lund University in Sweden, explains why this happens (the mule is the snout of the animal):
""When reindeer are feeding, their mules are exposed to very low temperatures as they look for food under the snow. They need to maintain sensitivity in order to know what they're actually eating.
"They pump warm blood into the mule which means it can be a bit reddish because of this strong blood flow. The thermographic cameras show the heat coming from their body. The eyes and the mule are lighter and warmer than the rest of the body."
In theory, this means that Rudolf has so many blood vessels that his nose started to glow red and sported the traditional tale we all love to hear at Christmas.
Unfortunately we've yet to prove exactly how reindeer fly, but it's believed to be a combination of magical Santa dust and a hearty, warming amount of Christmas spirit.
Merry Christmas!
