Reindeer have a body clock that does not rely on a 24-hour day/night light cycle, according to Norwegian researchers. It may explain how they stay awake to carry out their Christmas duties. Instead, their stomachs seem to keep their body clocks ticking along. Karl-Arne Stokkan at the University of Tromsų, and colleagues, logged the festive animals’ movements every 10 minutes for a year using a radio transmitter device embedded in collars around the reindeers’ necks.

The collars were placed on 12 reindeer, six who roamed a mountainous region of mainland Norway at a latitude of 70° North, and six found in the more-northerly Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (78° N). Winter in these regions is unyieldingly dark, while in summer the Sun does not set. Spring and autumn provide just a few weeks of night/day cycles. In the absence of light stimuli humans, like most mammals, naturally revert to a 6 to 8-hour sleep pattern due to an inbuilt circadian rhythm.

“Our data showed that reindeer have not evolved strong biological clocks, they have very weak circadian machinery, probably since there is no selective advantage for it: most of the time there is no difference between night and day,” says Stokkan. The mainland reindeer did show a weak development of circadian rhythm during spring and autumn, bedding down for longer at night. But the Arctic reindeers’ napping appeared to be dictated by their bellies year-round. “Like other ruminants, they have to eat most of the time and tend to sleep at random times, based on when they are digesting,” Stokkan explains.

He suggests that other polar animals have probably developed similar body clocks, whose circadian rhythms subside when not required. Blood tests on reindeer show they have low levels of melatonin, the hormone involved in regulating body clocks in response to daylight cycles. The reindeers’ unconventional lifestyle, sleeping during the day and up at all hours of the night, will come as welcome news to the expectant children of the world. Those worried that Rudolph would fall asleep on his present-delivering nightshift this Christmas Eve can rest easy… (Source: New Scientist)

Job Centre manager Chris Nicol banned Christmas decorations because it might make the unemployed miserable. Mr Nicol said, “It’s about considering the feelings of people who might not to be able to afford Christmas. Because of their circumstances they might not have decorations at home. I don’t think they should have their noses rubbed in it by walking into a Job Centre. I haven’t heard that staff are unhappy but it is impossible to please everyone.” (Source: The Sun, Dec/06)

Binmen have been banned from wearing Santa hats on health grounds. The refuse collectors in Kingston upon Hull have worn the traditional red hats for years but now city council bosses say “it does not create a professional impression of the council”. A spokesman for the East Yorkshire city said, “Employees can wear Christmas hats in their own time. Wearing them during work time does not create a professional impression. Further, there can be health and safety implications should hats get in the way of dangerous machinery operation.” (Source: The Sun, Dec/06)

A children's Christmas choir was left in tears after shopping centre security guards told them to shut up. The 23 children, aged three to five, were ordered to stop singing carols because they were too noisy. Nursery school teachers had taken the kids to entertain shoppers at Nottingham's Exchange Arcade. Exchange Arcade manager Joe Joseph said, "I was told by the security guards that they were making a noise, and not singing." (Source: Ananova, Dec/06)

Five thousand people joined a town's Christmas lights countdown but there were no lights to switch on. They were taken down for safety reasons a week previously after one string of bulbs fell into the street but the organisers had the bright idea of going ahead with the switch-on anyway. The event in Colchester, Essex, had been billed as the "biggest-ever parade and town light switch-on". It included children marching through the streets with Father Christmas, the chance to meet Colchester United players and youngsters decorating a tree. But as the countdown reached zero, the only lights that flickered into action were in shop windows and on a Christmas tree. Chris Rawlinson, of the Colchester Town Partnership, said, "Two of the cross-street features fell but nobody was injured. We took them all down for safety reasons." (Source: Daily Mirror, Nov/06)

Fat Santas have been told to get slim and set an example to kids. Bosses at Bluewater shopping centre are putting their 12 Father Christmases through a workout early each morning. And fitness trainer Cornel Chin has devised a set of exercises to help the Santas get rid of flab. Spokeswoman Fiona Campbell-Reilly said, "Society has changed and ours needs to reflect this. Getting Santa in shape sets a good example to children who idolise him. He will still be the same loveable jolly man but will be fitter and healthier." (Source: Daily Mirror, Nov/07)

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