John Carlos BaezMay 7
What's the most surprising fact you've learned in the last couple of weeks? I don't mind if it's quite technical. I just want to hear what you folks are being surprised by!
Show threadPait

@johncarlosbaez That of the heat the human body loses, 50% is by radiation.

Then 30% by convection, and 20% by evaporation of sweat, the latter being highly variable. Very little by conduction, unless the person is immersed in water.

I did not think radiation would amount to that much.

May 7 at 11:54amWeb
Show threadJohn Carlos BaezMay 7
@pait - Cool! I've heard wool keeps you warm because it has a high specific heat. I doubt that. Now I'm guessing it's good at absorbing infrared radiated by your body and then using the energy to warm air trapped amid the fibers. But I don't know.