Yellow teeth, Bob Dylan, and the science of Christmas cheer: The off-beat research from the BMJ's Christmas issue

Around this time of year, the BMJ releases its annual Christmas issue, a collection of strange and occasionally festive studies that you're unlikely to find at any other time of year. None of the studies are spoofs, per se. All the science is real, even if it does deal with topics like James Bond's alcohol consumption (2013) or the way people respond to the sight of a person riding a unicycle (2007).This year, the studies look at the (literally) blood-curdling effect of horror movies, the areas of the brain responsible for Christmas cheer, the Russian president's "gunslinger gait" and more. Links to the full studies are below.Experts discover new gait pattern among top Russian officialsReduced arm swing may be triggered by KGB or other weaponry trainingElection to head of government linked to greater risk of early deathBut mortality among UK members of parliament still lower than the general publicCall for international action to prevent a zombie apocalypseRise of zombie infections should be a wake-up call for global community, says expertExpert debunks the “curse of the rainbow jersey”Researcher explains why cycling World champions have a dip in performance while wearing the champion’s stripesBob Dylan: a source of inspiration for medical scientistsLyrics in the biomedical literature have increased exponentially since 1990Scientists localise the Christmas spirit in the brainUnderstanding how the Christmas spirit works could be a powerful tool in treating the "bah humbug" syndromeScary movies can curdle bloodWatching horror, or “bloodcurdling,” movies is associated with an increase in the clotting proteinStudy finds Americans do not have better teeth than the EnglishContrary to popular belief, the oral health of US citizens is not better than the EnglishMen with moustaches outnumber women in medical leadershipSolutions to help increase the number of women in academic medical leadership while maintaining enough men with facial hair in the workplace are needed

Yellow teeth, Bob Dylan, and the science of Christmas cheer: The off-beat research from the BMJ's Christmas issue

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