Reindeer pant to stay cool in fur coats

By Ella Davies Reporter, BBC Nature

Reindeer pant to lower their brain temperatures when running in fur coats, according to research.

Scientists in Norway trained reindeer to run on treadmills to study how they stayed cool under physical exertion.

The animals are heavily insulated against the cold of Arctic winters, leaving few methods of losing heat.

Results showed the reindeer inhaling large quantities of cold air and transferring heat by panting.

Professors Arnoldus Blix and Lars Folkow from the University of Tromso worked with Lars Walloe from the University of Oslo on the study.

Their findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

"Reindeer are the best animals to work with; once they trust the trainer they will do anything for you," Prof Blix told the journal.

After training the reindeer to run on the treadmill, the scientists measured their physiological responses to exercise in a cold environments.

In the early stages of running, the reindeer's breathing changed from seven breaths per minute to 250.

Blood flow to the face also increased and as the inhaled air passed over blood vessels inside the reindeer's noses, the temperature of this blood dropped.

This cooler blood then circulated around the body to cool the hard-working, heat-stressed muscles.

Subsequent panting then exposed the reindeer's large wet tongues to the cool air.

"They do not have sweat glands like us humans which would ruin the insulative properties of their fur, but make use of the same principle - heat dissipation through evaporation of water - when they pant," Prof Folklow told BBC Nature.

Finally, when their brain temperature reached a critically hot 39C, the reindeer switched to another strategy.

The team found that through "selective brain cooling", the reindeer diverted the cooled blood from their noses into their heads, where it reduced the temperature of blood circulating to the brain, protecting it from overheating.

"This high-arctic [animal] which tolerates cold very well, also has an immense capacity to tolerate heat stress due to the high efficiency of the panting mechanism and the habit of resorting to brain cooling when the heat load gets really high," said Prof Folklow.

Previous studies have highlighted this ability in sheep, leading scientists to question whether all species of hoofed mammal can selectively cool their brains.

BBC © 2011

Tips to prevent office back pain

Do you work in an office, here's some advice to avoid back pain:

Back pain is nothing short of a modern day plague; around seven out of 10 of us can expect to suffer from it at some time.
Back pain is a major cause of days off work, and is the second most common cause of long-term sickness in the UK, after stress.
Much of the back pain is not caused by lifting heavy objects or shifting around chests of drawers, but is down to sitting at an office desk for lengthy periods of time.
Many office workers don't even take a break from their desk: A UK wide survey by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists found one third choose to work through lunch breaks.
Yet sitting is one of the worst things you can do to your lower back, and that's before slouching and bad posture are factored in. Just working in the same position without a break increases the risk of developing back (and neck) pain.
To prevent developing back pain while sitting in front of a computer, try the following tips from the British Chiropractor Association:

• Relax when sitting into your chair. Make sure you have your bottom against the seat back with your shoulder blades touching the back rest of the chair
• Make sure your feet touch the floor, or use a foot rest
• There should be space between the front of your seat and back of your calves
• Your hips should be higher than your knees (tilt the seat)
• Arms should be flat and your elbows level with the desk or table you are using. Use a seat with arm rests
• Take regular breaks. Never sit at the computer for more than 40 minutes; less if possible
• When you take a break, walk around and stretch a little; do something completely different
• Remove any obstacles from under your desk to ensure you have enough leg room

In addition, position the monitor so that it is straight in front of you, at about arms length, and make sure it is directly in front of you, not at an angle.
The top of the screen should be at eye level, and you should not need to look up, twist your body or lean forward to use it.

(From: http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/Tips-to-prevent-office-back-pain.htm)

An interesting news story

An interesting news story - click on the highlighted words to see their meaning)

Killer Sharks Invade Golf Course in Oz
(Oz = Australia)

Members of a golf club in Australia have something more to worry about than just their swing - playing on what's thought to be the world's first shark-infested course.

Water hazards are a challenge for anyone who plays golf, but on the 14th tee at the Carbrook Golf Club in Brisbane there is another reason to be concerned.
Half a dozen man-eating bullsharks live in the lake in the centre of the course where their fins poking through the water have become a regular sight.
The sharks got onto the Queensland golf course when it flooded some years ago after a river broke its banks.
They became stranded when the water receded, but now they are thriving and even breeding.
"You can't believe how close you are...just six feet away," club general manager Scott Wagstaff said.
"There's no drama, it's become a positive thing for the golf course. They are amazing. I've become a shark lover since working here."
Although the lake is well stocked with fish, Mr Wagstaff sometimes throws in meat to encourage the sharks to come near the surface.
"I'm sure they are aggressive when you are in the water but when you are out here feeding them they are beautiful to watch," he told Sky News.
The sharks have become renowned in the region and there is even a monthly tournament called the "Shark Lake Challenge".
Golfers often pause during games for a few minutes to see if they can spot the sharks before they head off to the next tee.
The sharks, which are between 8 and 10ft long, have proved quite a hit at corporate events and their fins have even been spotted during wedding ceremonies held on the course.
Local children once jumped in the lake to retrieve lost golf balls for extra pocket money - but it is something they have not done for a while.
(From: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/killer-sharks-invade-golf-course-oz-012405533.html - you can see a video of the story, and the sharks, here)
Now you can post in the comments below and say what other hazards could be added to the golf course - maybe lions?