Why don't penguins freeze?

ArabiaWeather - Penguins are a group of seabirds capable of surviving in harsh and extremely cold environments. They live in polar regions and cold environments such as Antarctica and its neighboring islands, in addition to the Arctic regions. These birds are distinguished by their unique ability to adapt to extreme cold conditions. And survive in freezing water.

Why don't penguins freeze?

Penguins found in Antarctica live in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Temperatures there can reach 40 degrees below zero, wind speeds reach an astonishing 40 meters per second, and the water that surrounds them remains frozen at a temperature of up to 2.2 degrees below zero. Despite these extreme conditions, penguins are able to maintain Its thick plumage prevents it from freezing under the snow.

Scientists discovered how to maintain the temperature of the dense feathers of penguins in harsh conditions, and they were able to know the details of the short and thick feathers of these birds, and how to prevent them from freezing when they move in waters whose temperature is below zero in the frozen Antarctic. The researchers discovered the presence of very small pores. In the bodies of these birds, in addition to the secretion of oil that they secrete to clean themselves through a gland in their body, this oil acts as an insulating substance that protects them from water. Scientists believe that these factors give the feathers of penguins in Antarctica a superior ability to resist water.

Using an electron microscope, researchers in the United States made this remarkable discovery, as they studied the outer skin covered with feathers of penguins that live in harsh environments characterized by very low temperatures and extremely cold conditions.

Pirouz Kavpour, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a member of the research team, says:

"Penguins are truly amazing creatures. They live in extremely harsh environments and have an extraordinary ability to swim. They are truly living marvels of engineering."

It is known that penguins have properties that make them waterproof, keeping their feathers dry even in the presence of water around them.

How do penguins' feathers have such an exceptional ability to resist freezing?

Scientists from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and SeaWorld University conducted a study to understand what gives the feathers of Antarctic penguins their exceptional ability to resist freezing.

Based on the research they conducted, the researchers concluded that the feathers of Gentoo penguins contain pores that tightly trap air, making the surface of the feathers waterproof. In addition, these feathers are covered with cleaning oil secreted by glands in the front of the penguin’s beak. Together, these two elements help the water droplets that fall on the feathers form circles, which prevents the water from freezing at high speed. Moreover, the water droplets roll away from the penguin's body before they freeze, which increases the time for the water to freeze.

These discoveries reflect the evolution of penguins in adapting to the harsh weather conditions in the Antarctic region, as their outer feathers consist of a dense layer of short feathers, which helps them maintain warmth. Under the skin, penguins have a thick layer of fat that acts as additional insulation.

In these ways, penguins are able to adapt to the harsh conditions in their natural environments, without freezing, and the heat-conserving mechanisms within their bodies maintain a stable temperature that allows them to remain active and healthy in times of extreme cold weather.

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Sources:

bbc