Your Skin as Insulator
In Your Skin as Insulator, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod explores the role of skin in insulating the body against cold and heat. Focusing on how skin and body fat, particularly in animals like marine mammals and polar bears, helps regulate temperature, learn about how hair follicles and layers like blubber contribute to insulation and temperature regulation. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.
Lesson Express
Q: How does the density of hair on a polar bear help it stay warm?
A: The density of hair traps air, which acts as an insulator, keeping heat close to the body.
Q: What role does blubber play in insulating marine mammals?
A: Blubber serves as a thick layer of fat under the skin that helps keep the animal warm in cold waters by acting as an insulator.
Q: How do human skin and fat help us manage temperature?
A: Skin helps regulate temperature through sweating and adjusting blood flow, while fat provides insulation against cold.
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In Hair as Insulation, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod explores the role that human hair plays as insulation for the skin, focusing on how hair helps regulate body temperature in response to cold. Understand the physiological mechanisms that cause goosebumps and how mammals like polar bears use their dense fur to survive in extreme cold. Through understanding these biological processes, gain insight into the relationship between hair, insulation, and body temperature regulation. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.
In Bison and Foxes Battle the Cold, narrator Sir David Attenborough takes us through the harsh conditions of the North American prairies, where bison use their strength to uncover food buried beneath the snow, and foxes rely on skill and precision to hunt for meals. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In Hair as Insulation, evolutionary biologist Ben Garrod explores the role that human hair plays as insulation for the skin, focusing on how hair helps regulate body temperature in response to cold. Understand the physiological mechanisms that cause goosebumps and how mammals like polar bears use their dense fur to survive in extreme cold. Through understanding these biological processes, gain insight into the relationship between hair, insulation, and body temperature regulation. This video is excerpted from Secrets of Skin, a documentary series exploring the natural history of the body’s largest organ.