A Norwegian study has quantified the dangers of getting one's tongue stuck to cold metal surfaces, a phenomenon known as 'tundra tongue.' Graduate student Anders Hagen Jarmund conducted experiments using pig tongues to determine the forces involved and optimal temperatures for this winter hazard. The research found that temperatures between -5° and -15° Celsius pose the greatest risk of tongue tissue damage.

Jarmund's team reviewed 113 historical cases from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, dating back to 1845. Most incidents involved children aged 1-16, with 60 percent being boys. The study revealed that 54 percent of detachments resulted in torn tongue tissue, with severity correlating to the force applied. Cases peaked in the 1950s, often inspired by children testing stories they'd read about the phenomenon.

The researchers used 84 fresh pig tongues from a local slaughterhouse, mounting them to force sensors and pressing them against cooled metal surfaces. They found that pulling a stuck tongue off too quickly increases damage risk. The team recommends staying calm and avoiding rapid detachment. Norway even passed legislation in 1998 to prohibit bare metal in playground equipment following numerous incidents.