One of 2461 polar swimmers prepares to get in the water to set a world record for the largest polar bear dip at a lake in Most, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) ...

The chemical cocktail behind why polar bear fur doesn't freeze New research finds that grease that coats polar bear fur contains a specialized mixture of chemicals that make it resistant to freezing.

Before there was a Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day in Milwaukee, there was the Milwaukee Polar Bear Club. And its members didn't just dive into frigid Lake Michigan on the first day of the year.

Polar bears are very closely related to brown bears, but have numerous key adaptations that help them survive in extreme arctic conditions. They have two layers of fur to help them keep warm and dry.

The most notable event of the weekend, the Polar Bear Plunge, had a record number of 4416 people running into the Atlantic Ocean this year. Festival organizers say the water Sunday afternoon was a ...

One of 2461 polar swimmers prepares to get in the water to set a world record for the largest polar bear dip at a lake in Most, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) ...

Some of 2461 polar swimmers get out of the water after breaking a world record for the largest polar bear dip at a lake in Most, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 1, 2025.