Hamster races at Mid-Winter Night
Philip K Swartz - 1960-61 - South Pole Station - Antarcticans Database Project more

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. The summer of 1960, Dr. Carl Hamner of UCLA conducted several experiments at the pole designed to establish whether or not some plants/animals derived their diurnal sense from rotation of the Earth. He placed test subject on turntables that could either double the Earth's rotation or exactly counter it. Light could easily be controlled to rule out that factor. Bean plants were used along with cockroaches (carefully destroyed at the end of the experiment) and hamsters. The hamsters were kept as pets, with 3 surviving to mid-winter. An obstacle race was held as part of the festivities. Dr. Hamner's experiments failed to show any effect of rotation. The hamsters showed little or no interest in reaching the end of the course.

Pictures from Philip K Swartz, overwinter, South Pole, 60-61