How An Igloo Keeps You Warm

Building a perfect igloo takes cool science!
↓ More info and sources below ↓

If you ever find yourself stranded in the snowy Arctic (or bored in Minecraft), you’re gonna need to know how to build an igloo. But how can building a house made of ice keep you warm? The science behind building an igloo is the same reason that otters and reindeer don't freeze to death!

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It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.

Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson
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Produced by PBS Digital Studios
Music via APM

[besmart]

Regarding use of the word "Eskimo" in this video: We are now aware, thanks to many polite comments from our audience, that this is viewed as a derogatory term among many native peoples of Canada, as well as in some Arctic regions. Several of our references centered on Alaskan natives, among whom this term is more commonly accepted. Additionally, we used the term in reference to native languages, which are more commonly referred to as Eskimo or Eskimo-Inuit, and not the people, but we should have been more clear and sought out another term. We apologize to those we offended, and have learned a lot. We'll do better in the future, as we always aim to do.

[amazinmets]

"There's no such thing as cold!" You sound like my Landlord when I ask him to turn the heat up.

[kainochishi]

My friends moved into their new igloo.

All was going perfectly for them up until the housewarming party.

[Jameslawz]

It's amazing how survival and hunger can push the boundaries of human innovation. Building a house out of SNOW and surviving in some of the most harshest climates on Earth is pure genius and madness! Hats off to the Eskimos man...it's a way of life out there.

[EphYxRS]

it always felt natural to me to know that isolated structures of snow is kind of warm, ive played so much in the snow (I live in the north of quebec it snows 6 - 7 months a year and it always felt somewhat warm when we'd build tunnels and mini size igloo and stuff

[josuedominguez]

Imagine the first person to built a house out of ice. People called him crazy, but he had the last laugh.

[chantelsopio]

*My brain at 3 AM* : Let's find out why Igloos keep us warm.

[davidcooke]

As a veteran mountaineer who has slept in his share of snow caves, when it's -20F outside and a balmy 32F inside, it seems like the tropics. I've gone climbing without a bivy or tent, just a shovel and sleeping bag is all you need.

[snailfriend]

so as a Canadian who grew up learning about this. polar bears did it first. they dig holes in snow banks. the Inuit copied it. snow and ice are very good insulators because when it gets cold enough, stuff starts repelling heat. several people huddled in a small space where all the heat is reflected back into the space, is quite cozy.

[mcdonaldssauce]

“How to keep an igloo warm”
13 million people: I don’t need sleep I need answers

[uforocker]

In my chemistry class when we found out there is no such thing as cold, throughout anytime it was freezing outside we would say “damn it’s less hot outside”

[elite_rock_god]

The fastest, easiest and best way to keep yourself warm and protect yourself from the weather is just to dig in The snow. Dig down, find a hill and dig side ways into the snow. Its alot faster and easier. Dig a hole and when The weather clears either get going or make a proper shelther (wouldent bet on making a igloo since its quite hard to make it right and very tireing but it is possible) where you can try and make a fire or Light your "portable kitchen" (dont know what its called in english 😂)

[andrewgru]

A good layer of snow is what keeps most water mains from freezing and bursting during winter. Hence hope for lots of snowfall to keep the frost from penetrating to the pipes.

[ogre]

In the military we did a field operation for a month in the mountains during winter and it got to -30f some nights, well one of those nights was survival night. We got dropped off in pairs with minimal food, water, or clothing. Basically just you your partner and a shovel and you had to be as comfortable as possible for about 12 hours over night. The only person who managed not to get frost bite or be extremely cold was someone who found a hill and dug out a whole cave to sleep in. You would go in there and start sweating it was pretty cool

[smileydog]

Who the hell first invented an igloo, anyway? "This ice is too cold. To protect myself I will surround myself with it."

[Malignantt]

This actually all makes sense to me because when i was a kid, i used to play in a foot of snow with a ton of clothes on. However, when I would “bury” myself in the snow and just lay down in it, I noticed I was actually getting warmer despite being covered in snow. Strange phenomenon

[Helladamnleet]

I remember watching a Magic School Bus about this: Basically ice/snow is always 32oF or close to it for whatever reason, so the interior of the igloo stays slightly above, so while it's not necessarily warm, it's a LOT warmer than the sub zero temps outside, and with the proper clothing you can even stay comfortable.

[TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

I think ice puns are cool and all, but ya'll need to chill out with them.

[thesnowyowl]

My dad taught me how to build one, though it was pretty rough. The ones our ancestors and some of our elders would build were carved and shaped to be surprisingly smooth. Building it this way was better for keeping it warm and nicer to look at. And also, Inuit had a qulliq, a traditional stove fueled by seal blubber to help keep the igloo warm during the night.

[hvacexplained]

When I was a kid I use to build an igloo in the backyard when we would get a heavy snowfall. I found out if you would light a candle and leave it in there it will create a hard layer of ice. Believe it or not you are so much warmer in that igloo than you are outside of it. No wind and quiet.