Ask+The+Science+Guy!

How old can polar bears live to be?


 * The Polar Bear's life cycle depends on a number of things. In the wild, where conditions are often harsh and unforgiving, the average Polar Bear lives to be 15 to 20 years old. In a zoo, where life is much simpler for the Polar Bear (no predators, free meals, etc.) it is not unusual for a Polar Bear to reach the ripe old age of 30.

Thanks for the question**

How do Polar Bears live in the cold weather??????


 * Polar Bears have many adaptations for living in cold weather. For starters, their large size. The larger an animal, the more body heat it conserves. Another adaptation is a thick layer of fat. This acts as an insulator against the cold as well as an energy source when food is scarce. Finally, and this is a little known fact about Polar Bears, is how it taps solar energy. A Polar Bear actually has black skin, you can't see it under all of that white fur, but it is there. The white hair itself is actually a hollow tube (like fiber optics) that collects sunlight and transmits it to the skin, where the black color absorbs the energy, warming the bear. The hollow hair has another benefit to the Polar Bear in that it gives the bear bouyancy in the water, much like you wearing a life preserver.**