"Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" On a foggy Christmas Eve, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer saved the day by using his unique nose to guide Santa on his holiday travels. The other reindeer depend on his red nose when bad weather makes it hard for Santa to deliver presents to children across the world.

Have you ever wondered just what exactly makes Rudolph so special? After all, he's the only known reindeer with a bright red nose that also happens to glow. It turns out, there's a scientific explanation for Rudolph's famous red glowing nose.

Why Does Rudolph's Nose Glow?

Some animals have a trait known as “bioluminescence.” This is a fancy word that refers to an animal's ability to create its own light. Many scientists believe that Rudolph's nose has that same ability.

Bioluminescence is often found in sea animals who live at the bottom of the ocean. It's so dark down there, the fish and sea creatures who call the deep sea their home need their own source of light to help locate food and find their way around. Fireflies are another animal that are bioluminescent.

This is what makes it have its famous glow that's helped lead Santa across many dark oceans and through foggy nights. Much like fireflies and deep-sea creatures, Rudolph can activate the light in his nose as needed with a chemical reaction. When Rudolph was a young buck, he couldn't control the red glow of his nose. However, as he got older, Rudolph learned how to make his nose glow so that it was ready when he really needed it.

That explains why Rudolph’s nose glows, but what about it’s red color?

Why Is Rudolph's Nose Red?

Scientists believe that Rudolph has more red blood cells in his nose than the average reindeer. While other reindeer have black noses, the high number of red blood cells in Rudolph's nose may cause it to have a red color.

Besides glowing, Rudolph’s nose gives him a few advantages over the other reindeer on Santa’s team. Those extra blood cells help protect Rudolph’s nose from freezing, even when flying through a blizzard. They also help give him the energy he needs to lead the sleigh and maintain a speedy flying pace by carrying more blood that is full of oxygen and nutrients throughout his body. This helps Rudolph fly as fast as he can.

In fact, scientists think that all of Santa's reindeer have more red blood cells that an average reindeer that doesn't have to fly and pull his sleigh. Like Rudolph, they need a lot of energy. However, they likely have thicker nose skin that keeps the red color from showing through their nose.

How the Cold Affects Rudolph's Nose

Another thing that contributes to the color of Rudolph's nose is the cold weather. During cold weather, the body must work a little harder to make sure blood gets everywhere it needs to go. You may have noticed that your own nose turns red when you're out in the cold for a long time.

The North Pole has an average temperature of -40 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. This is an extremely cold temperature for any animal, even reindeer. Santa's reindeer, including Rudolph, need to have a lot of blood moving to and from their face and brains to help with breathing, thinking, and moving.

All of these factors have come together to give Rudolph the glowing red nose that's helped Santa save Christmas more than once. Rudolph's nose is proof that we should love the things that make us a little