Why Polar Bears Don’t Freeze: The Hidden Oil in Their Fur

casualSTEM delivers brief and informative summaries of the latest science news every Saturday. Full of jokes, silly polls, and a cartoon!

Beary Warm

Greasy polar bears are waaay ahead of most humans in winterization. Researchers identified how these snowy giants keep the ice off.

• Polar bear fur is coated in sebum

• Sebum = hydrophobic greasy coating

• Washing the hair removed sebum and allowed ice to stick

Polar bears use their fur to silently slide across ice, hunting seals at breathing holes. Something the Inuit people have long known and copied with fur-lined tools and clothing. But now you can say “sebum” and giggle, as a scientist.

Boots with the brrrrrr

Catch-up on science in sweatpants