Supported by the National Endowment for Science,

Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and Visions of Science

Quite Interesting Science

presents

Supported by the National Endowment for Science,

Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and Visions of Science

This week: Polar Bears

1 Canadians are meeting more polar bears, when they wander into towns. Why?

Polar Bears are in danger because of global warming.

They need sea ice to hunt their food.

But hotter summers in the Arctic are melting the winter ice too quickly.

So hungry bears are wandering into towns.

2 What colour is a polar bear’s skin?

A polar bear's skin is actually black. It’s the fur that is white.

Black skin allows it to soak up as much heat as possible from the sun.

This is one of the bear’s many adaptations for ‘life in the freezer’.

3 How long before the Arctic ice melts completely: 10, 20, 50, 100 years?

According to the latest report, the ice could melt entirely during the summertime in 20 years.

This would leave the Polar Bears with no habitat.

4 How could the melting ice affect the UK’s climate?

The UK’s climate is much hotter than it should be. It is on the same latitude as Alaska.

The extra heat comes from a warm water current – ‘the Gulf Stream’.

Some scientists believe that the meltwater (from the ice) could ‘switch off’ the Gulf Stream.

This would create a ‘big chill’ in the UK.

5 What black and white animal do polar bears eat?

The black and white animal is a dead whale. The bears can smell them for 20 miles.

It’s not penguins. They live in the Antarctic. Polar bears are in the Arctic.

In fact, their favourite food is seals.

6 Global warming is caused by too much greenhouse gas. Which gas traps the most heat?

Carbon dioxide may be the most important, because of the quantities released.

But the most powerful greenhouse gas is methane. It traps 21 times as much heat as CO2.

7 How would you defend yourself from a Polar Bear attack?

Don’t run. Polar bears can run faster than human beings, particularly on ice.

Either be aggressive, and shout to frighten it.

Or pretend to be a dominant male. Stand on your backpack to make yourself bigger than the bear.

In partnership with the Novartis and The Daily Telegraph

Visions of Science Photographic Awards.

How did you do?

WHITE

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PENGUINS

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CARBON DIOXIDE

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RUN

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