Science of Survival: Frozen Alive
Outside Podcast
Deep Dive
Why does the human body allow fingers to chill to keep vital organs warm?
To preserve core temperature, surface capillaries constrict, diverting blood from extremities to the torso.
Why can't scientists predict how quickly hypothermia will strike or who it will affect?
Cold's effects are unpredictable; no single factor reliably determines onset or severity.
Why do Tibetan Buddhist monks and Australian Aborigines have different cold adaptations?
Monks raise hand/foot temp through meditation; Aborigines enter light hypothermia to conserve heat.
Why does the body start to shiver violently during mild hypothermia?
Shivering is the body's maximum response to generate heat and combat cooling.
Why does the victim feel the need to remove clothes during profound hypothermia?
Constricted blood vessels near the surface suddenly dilate, creating a sensation of extreme heat.
Why is cold considered a 'perverse salvation' in hypothermia cases?
Cold slows bacterial growth, chemical reactions, and metabolism, potentially preventing brain damage.
Why do 16 Danish fishermen die after being rescued from the frigid North Sea?
Rewarming shock causes sudden capillary dilation, leading to fatal blood pressure drops.
Why does the victim's core temperature continue to drop even after rescue?
After-drop occurs as residual cold near the body's surface continues to cool the core.
Why does the victim's body stiffen during rewarming?
Stiffness results from cold blood warming and thickening, causing muscle rigidity.
Why does the victim's frostbitten tissue blister?
Ice crystals form in tissue spaces, blocking blood supply and causing fluid buildup.
- Army Survival Field Manual recommends wearing two pairs of socks with insulation for extra warmth.
- Wool socks improve traction on ice due to their fiber structure.
Shownotes Transcript