“C’mon, guys … it’s a nasal microvascular thing!” We’re all familiar with the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: an outcast, ridiculed for his glowing nose, chosen by Santa himself to guide the iconic sleigh across the world and deliver presents to millions of children. It’s an uplifting, Christmas-time staple. But why was Rudolph’s nose so red in the first place? According to handful of Dutch scientists, he was just overheated. The group published a report on Tuesday, appropriately titled “Microcirculatory investigations of nasal mucosa in reindeer Rangifer tarandus (Mammalia, Artiodactyla, Cervidae): Rudolph’s nose was overheated,” that claims the reindeer’s illuminating schnoz was the result of hyperthermia.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.